G/ 


JOHNA.SEAVERNS 


llliillli'lllll 

3  9090  014  533  117 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
Cummings  School  of  Veterinary  iViedicine  at 
Tutt3  University 
200  Westboro  Road 
Morih  Grafton.  MA  .01 536 


^ 


SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

Riding  to  Hounds,  Golf,  Rowing,  Foothcdl, 
Club  and  University  Athletics.  Studies  in 
English  Sport,  Past  and  Present.  By 
CASPAR   W,   WHITNEY.      Illustrated. 


Neio  York:  HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  FuMlshers 
MDUCCXCV. 


s. 


Copyright,  1894,  by  Harper  &  Brothers. 
All  rights  reserved. 


PREFACE 


The  games  of  our  college  days  and  sports  of  our  man- 
hood are  too  often  viewed  in  the  light  of  mere  athletic 
spectacles,  where  victory  is  the  sole  desideratum.  Those 
who  give  the  subject  a  little  serious  consideration,  how- 
ever, recognize  the  lessons  of  the  play-ground  as  having 
most  lasting  and  most  beneficial  effects. 

Sport  makes  manly  boys  and  gentle  men  ;  quickens  the 
judgment,  puts  pluck  in  the  heart  and  strength  in  the 
body.  As  Whyte-Melville  once  wrote,  it  "  rouses  manly 
qualities  of  body  and  mind,  excites  intellectual  faculties 
and  muscular  powers,  braces  the  nervous  system,  and 
stimulates  arm,  heart,  and  brain  to  healthful  effort.  Few 
true  sportsmen  but  are  frank  of  nature,  kindly  and  gen- 
erous." 

Until  comparatively  recent  years,  we  of  the  United 
States  have  been  too  thoroughly  occupied  with  the  work 
of  building  up  a  great  nation  to  give  much  thought  to 
play.  Now,  however,  that  sport  in  America  is  fast  de- 
veloping, it  is  essential  to  an  intelligent  understanding  of 
this  development  and  its  purpose,  to  turn  for  our  prece- 
dents to  the  country  which  cradled  nearly  every  game 
we  have.  Hence,  to  thoroughly  understand  the  present 
condition  and  the  object  of  modern  games  in  the  United 


s 


Cn\l 


Copyright,  1894,  by  Harper  &  Brothers. 
All  rights  reserved. 


PREFACE 


The  games  of  our  college  days  and  sports  of  our  man- 
hood are  too  often  viewed  in  the  light  of  mere  athletic 
spectacles,  where  victory  is  the  sole  desideratum.  Those 
w^io  give  the  subject  a  little  serious  consideration,  how- 
ever, recognize  the  lessons  of  the  play-ground  as  having 
most  lasting  and  most  beneficial  effects. 

Sport  makes  manly  boys  and  gentle  men ;  quickens  the 
judgment,  puts  pluck  in  the  heart  and  strength  in  the 
body.  As  Whyte-Melville  once  wrote,  it  "  rouses  manly 
qualities  of  body  and  mind,  excites  intellectual  faculties 
and  muscular  powers,  braces  the  nervous  system,  and 
stimulates  arm,  heart,  and  brain  to  healthful  effort.  Few 
true  sportsmen  but  are  frank  of  nature,  kindly  and  gen- 
erous." 

Until  comparatively  recent  years,  we  of  the  United 
States  have  been  too  thoroughly  occupied  with  the  work 
of  building  up  a  great  nation  to  give  much  thought  to 
play.  Now,  however,  that  sport  in  America  is  fast  de- 
veloping, it  is  essential  to  an  intelligent  understanding  of 
this  development  and  its  purpose,  to  turn  for  our  prece- 
dents to  the  country  which  cradled  nearly  every  game 
we  have.  Hence,  to  thoroughly  understand  the  present 
condition  and  the  object  of  modern  games  in  the  United 


vi  PREFACE 

States,  it  is  necessary  to  study  their  past  traditions  and 
present  systems  in  England.  With  such  an  object  the  pil- 
grimage here  recorded  was  undertaken. 

There  has  been  no  intention  of  presenting  detailed  de- 
scriptions or  elaborate  history :  there  are  here  in  these 
pages  only  the  impressions  of  a  student  of  amateur  sport, 
who  is  deeply  grateful  for  the  opportunity  of  spreading 
the  doctrine  of  sport  for  sport's  sake  only. 


CONTENTS 


CHAP.  PAGE 

I.    THE  ENGLISH  SPORTING  SPIRIT 3 

II.    RIDING  TO  HOUNDS — IN   THE    "  SHIRES  " 24 

ni.    BIDING  TO  HOUNDS — IN  THE    "PROVINCES" 71 

IV.    UNIVERSITY  SPORTSMANSHIP 90 

V.    ROWING— AT  OXFORD  AND  CAMBRIDGE 114 

VI.    ROWING — ON   THE  THAMES 157 

VII.    UNIVERSITY  FOOTBALL 179 

Vm.    CLUB  FOOTBALL 203 

IX.    UNIVERSITY  ATHLETICS 220 

X.   CLUB  ATHLETICS 278 

XI.    CLUBS 301 

XII.    CYCLING 310 

Xni.  CRICKET 320 

XIV.    GOLF 331 

XV.    A  BIT  OP   HISTORY 363 

XVI.   FIRST  LESSONS .  382 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

WHIPPING  IN  A  STRAGGLER Frontispiece 

CALLING    OFF    THE    HOUNDS 5 

CUTTING    OUT    THE    WORK 8 

IN    FULL    CRY 11 

A    STIFF    WALL 15 

'"ware  horse" 19 

SAILING   ON   THE   ISIS   AT   OXFORD 22 

ON   THE   EXMOORS — GOING   TO   COVERT 25 

WITH    THE    DEVON    AND    SOMERSET    STAG-HOUNDS — A    MEET    AT    CLOUTSHAM  .       .  27 

AN    ORDINARY    THORN-HEDGE    AND    DITCH 31 

WATER    DITCH    AND    HEDGE-TOPPED    BANK    IN    THE    QUORN    COUNTRY       .       .       .       .  35 

A    THORN    FENCE    IN    THE    BELVOIR    COUNTRY 37 

THORN    FENCE    IN    THE    COTTESMORE    COUNTRY 39 

THE    QUORN   HOUNDS     .......  43 

QUORN    KENNELS ' 45. 

DOUBLE    DITCH    AND    FENCED    BANK 47 

DITCH    AND    "  STAKED-AND-BOUND  "    FENCE 50 

BELVOIR    HOUNDS— DUKE   OF   RUTLAND'S 53 

BELVOIR   KENNELS 57 

A  MEET    OF   THE    PYTCHLEY  HOUNDS    AT    ALTHORP    PARK,  EARL    SPENCER's    RESI- 
DENCE      59 

PYTCHLEY   HOUNDS 63 

THE    PYTCHLEY    KENNELS 65 

EARL    spencer's    STABLES 69 

AN    OLD-TIME    PYTCHLEY    "  OXER " 73 

COTTESMORE    STABLES 75 

COTTESMORE    HOUNDS 77 

COTTESMORE    KENNELS 79 

LORD    RIBBESDALE,  MASTER   OF   THE    QUEEN's    BUCK-HOUNDS 80 

THE    cricketers'    INN,    A    FAVORITE    MEET    OF   THE    QUEEN'S    STAG-HOUNDS,    AND 

THE    VEHICLE    IN    WHICH  CARTED    DEER    ARE    HAULED            81 


X  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

DEVON   AND   SOMERSET   STAG-HOUNDS 83 

A    KILL    WITH   THE    DEVON    AND    SOMERSET    STAG-HOUNDS 86 

DUKE  OF  Rutland's  gambler 87 

AN    ENGLISH    BEAGLE         ...              88 

the   CHRIST   CHURCH   (OXFORD)   BEAGLES 89 

AN   undergraduate's    ROOM   AT   CAMBRIDGE 93 

AN    ENGLISH    FOOTBALL    PLATER 96 

A    COLLEGE    BARGE 99 

PUTNEY    BRIDGE,  STARTING-POINT    OF    THE    OXFORD-CAMBRIDGE    BOAT-RACE  .       .  102 

AN    ORDINARY    PUNT .  103 

AT    OXFORD — LOOKING    UP   THE    ISIS   FROM  FOLLY    BRIDGE 105 

AT    CAMBRIDGE LOOKING    UP   THE    CAM 109 

AT    THE    STARTING-POSTS    OF    A    BUMPING    RACE 115 

"tubbing" ' 120 

THE    ORIGINAL    "  TUB " ' 120 

A   COACHING   "tub" 121 

A    "clinker"    FOUR-OAR 123 

PROCESSION    OF    EIGHTS    ON    THE    ISIS,  OXFORD — SALUTING    THE    'VARSITY     .       .  127 

THE    OXFORD    COURSE ....  132 

THE    CAMBRIDGE    COURSE 133 

MR.  LEHMANN    COACHING   OXFORD   FROM   HORSEBACK 135 

OXFORD     EIGHT-OARED     BOAT — INTERIOR    VIEW,    LOOKING     FORWARD,    SHOWING 

POSITIONS   OP   SEATS   AND   FIXED   ROWLOCKS 137 

OXFORD   UNIVERSITY   BOAT-HOUSE 139 

DIAGRAM    OF    BUMPING    RACE 140 

A   "bump" 143 

OXFORD    TAKING    OUT    BOAT 147 

RACING   EIGHTS   ON   THE   ISIS,  OXFORD 149 

THE    BARRIER   AT    PUTNEY    BRIDGE 153 

COURSE    OF   OXFORD-CAMBRIDGE    ANNUAL    RACE    FROM    PUTNEY    TO    MORTLAKE  .  154 

TRAINING    QUARTERS    OF    THE    OXFORD    CREW    AT    PUTNEY 159 

THE    HENLEY    COURSE SCENE    OF   HENLEY    REGATTA 162 

TRAINING    QUARTERS    OF    THE    CAMBRIDGE    CREW    AT    PUTNEY 165 

LKANDER    ROWING    CLUB    BOAT-HOUSE    AT    PUTNEY USED    BY    CAMBRIDGE    .       .  167 

LONDON   ROWING   CLUB   BOAT-HOUSE   AT   PUTNEY — USED   BY    OXFORD       .       .       .  169 

THE  LONDON,  LEANDER,  AND  THAMES  ROWING  CLUBS — LOOKING  UP  THE  THAMES  171 

RUGBY   UNION    SCRIMMAGE 181 

THE    ETON    WALL    GAME 183 

A    WINCHESTER    "  HOT  " 187 

"dribbling"    in   THE    ASSOCIATION    GAME 189 

"passing" 193 


ILLUSTRATIONS  xi 

PAGE 

PCTTIXG    THE    BALL    IN    PLAY    FROM    SIDE    LINES    IN    RUGBY    UNION       ....  195 

PUTTING    THE    BALL    IN    PLAY RUGBY      ...              19V 

"heading" 201 

BLACKHEATH    FOOTBALL    GROUNDS    AND    CLUB-HOUSE 205 

A    BRADFORD    CLUB    FOOTBALL    CROWD      ....              209 

YORK    VS.  ENGLAND 213 

ASSOCIATION    FOOTBALL    FIELD 217 

OXFORD    ATHLETIC    FIELD    AND    CLUB-HOUSE 223 

CAMBRIDGE    ATHLETIC    AND    CRICKET    FIELD    AND    CLUB-HOUSE 227 

queen's    club,  LONDON FOOTBALL    AND    ATHLETIC    FIELD 233 

DIAGRAM    OF    QUEEN's    CLUB    GROUNDS 237 

OXFORD    RACQUET    AND    FITES    COURTS 239 

TYPE    OF   ENGLISH    HURDLE 241 

THE   WATER    HAZARD    ON    THE    RANELAGH    GOLF    LINKS 259 

THE    OXFORD    TRACK    ATHLETIC    TEAM    WHICH    MET    AND    DEFEATED    YALE     .  268-2G9 

THE    YALE    TRACK    ATHLETIC    TEAM    WHICH    MET    OXFORD 273 

LONDON    ATHLETIC    CLUB    GROUNDS,  AT    STAMFORD    BRIDGE 279 

queen's   CLUB — RACQUET   AND   TENNIS   COURTS 283 

BRADFORD    A.  C.   CLUB-HOUSE    AND    GROUNDS 287 

BRADFORD    CRICKET    CREASE    AND    HOUSE 289 

RICHMOND    ATHLETIC    FIELD    AND    CLUB-HOUSE 291 

POLE    VAULTING    ON    A    MATTRESS    AT    BRADFORD 295 

POLO-FIELD   AND    RACE-TRACK,  RANELAGH    CLUB 297 

INTERIOR    OF   PRINCE's    CLUB 302 

prince's    CLUB-HOUSE 803 

HAMPTON  COURT,  FROM  GARDEN SITE  OF  ONE  OF    THE    OLDEST    TENNIS-COURTS  305 

THE    sports'    CLUB 308 

KENNINGTON    OVAL 313 

lord's SHOWING    PUBLIC    STAND    ON    THE    RIGHT 321 

THE    PAVILION    AT   LORD's 326 

OXFORD   CRICKET-GROUND   AND   CLUB-HOUSE 327 

ALMOST    AS    EXCITING    AS   SALMON    FISHING 332 

PLAN    OF    GOLFING    COURSE,  ST.   ANDREWS 333 

A   VIEW   OF   THE   ST.  ANDREWS   LINKS 335 

"  BUNKERED  " 338 

CLUB-HOUSE    AND    HOME    HOLE,  ST.  ANDREWS 339 

A    LOST    BALL 341 

HOLE    O'   CROSS,  HEATHERY    HOLE,  HIGH    HOLE,    AND    THE    RIVER    EDEN,    ST.  AN- 
DREWS         342 

ROYAL  NORTH  DEVON  CLUB-HOUSE  AND  FIRST    TEEING-GROUND,   WESTWARD    HO  348 

LOOKING    TOWARDS    THE    SEA,  WESTWARD    HO 345 


xii  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

PLAN  OF  THE  GOLFING  COURSE  OF  THE  ST.  GEORGE'S  GOLF  CLUB  ....  348 

THE  "SAHARA" 349 

ST.  GEORGE'S    CLUB-HOUSE,  SANDWICH 351 

"  WALKINSHAW'S    GRAVE" 352 

"hell"    BUNKER 353 

THE   "maiden" 355 

A    VIEW    OF    HOYLAKE 357 

ROYAL    LIVERPOOL    CLUB-HOUSE,  HOYLAKE 359 

A    HOYLAKE    PUTTING-GREEN 361 

MODERN    GOLF    CLUBS 365 

HOLDING    CLUB— CORRECT   POSITION 367 

BACK    VIEW BEGINNING   OF   FULL    SWING  FOR  DRIVING INCORRECT  POSITION  370 

BACK    VIEW BEGINNING    OF    FULL    SWING  FOR  DRIVING CORRECT    POSITION   .  371 

FRONT  VIEW BEGINNING  OF  FULL  SWING  FOR  DRIVING INCORRECT  POSITION  372 

FRONT  VIEW — BEGINNING  OF  FULL  SWING  FOR  DRIVING — CORRECT  POSITION     .  373 

THE    WAGGLE 383 

FRONT    VIEW ENDING    OF   FULL    SWING    AFTER   DRIVE INCORRECT    POSITION  .  384 

FRONT    VIEW ENDING    OF   FULL    SWING    AFTER    DRIVE CORRECT    POSITION        .  385 

BACK   VIEW ENDING    OF   FULL    SWING    AFTER    DRIVE CORRECT   POSITION.       .  386 

BACK    VIEW ENDING   OF   FULL    SWING    AFTER    DRIVE INCORRECT    POSITION     .  387 

FRONT    VIEW   OF   FEET   FOR  DRIVING CORRECT    POSITION 388 

FRONT    VIEW    OF   FEET    FOR    DRIVING INCORRECT    POSITION 388 

ADDRESSING    BALL    FOR   DRIVE — CORRECT    POSITION 389 

CORRECT    POSITION    OF   FEET    IN    HIGH    LOFTING 389 

FRONT    VIEW BEGINNING    OF    HIGH-LOFTING    STROKE 390 

FRONT    VIEW FINISH    OF    HIGH-LOFTING    STROKE 391 

FRONT    VIEW GETTING   OUT    OF    A    BUNKER 392 

LOFTING    A    STIMIE 393 

FRONT    VIEW BEGINNING    OF    THREE-QUARTER    SWING 393 

FRONT    VIEW ENDING    OF    THREE-QUARTER    SWING 394 

BKGINNING    OF   HALF    IRON    SHOT — CORRECT    POSITION 395 

ENDING    OF    HALF    IRON    SHOT — CORRECT    POSITION 395 

FRONT    VIEW PUTTING — CORRECT    POSITION      , 396 

FRONT    VIEW — PUTTING INCORRECT    POSITION 396 


A    SPOETING    PILGRIMAGE 


I 

THE   ENGLISH    SPORTING   SPIRIT 

I  AM  well  aware  I  shall  be  exposing  myself  to  a 
charge  Of  triteness  by  proclaiming,  what  every  one  al- 
ready knows,  that  the  average  Britisher  is  an  athlete,  the 
English  nation  an.  athletic  one,  and  its  subjects,  both  men 
and  women,  more  universally  and  genuinely  imbued  with 
the  spirit  than  those  of  any  other  race  on  earth.  But  one 
must  journey  to  England,  and  watch  the  native  at  play 
on  his  own  soil,  study  his  traditions  and  systems,  and 
marvel  at  the  completeness  with  which  every  opportu- 
nity is  developed,  to  fully  appreciate  the  extraordinary  in- 
terest and  the  widespread  activity  taken  in  every  branch 
of  sport. 

"WTien  first  I  reached  London,  and  struggled  to  keep 
comfortably  warm  by  the  feeble  heat  of  the  tiny  grates 
that  are  indigenous  to  the  .country,  I  thought  I  had  dis- 
covered whence  arose  this  athletic  predilection. 

It  seemed  to  me,  as  I  sat  at  my  writing-table  wrapped 
in  my  steamer  rug  in  a  de^^erate  and  chilly  endeavor  to 
thaw  out  the  Muse,  that  the  Englishman  must,  in  self- 
defence,  seek  exercise  of  some  kind  to  keep  his  blood 
from  congealing.  At  this  writing,  however,  I  confess  my 
first  impressions  to  have  been  libellous,  and  acknowledge 
the  Englishman  an  athlete  for  the  very  good  and  simple 
reason  that  it  is  bred  in  the  bone,  and  because  he  inhales 
a  sporting  atmosphere  from  the  very  day  he  is  old  enough 
to  trundle  a  cricket  ball  on  the  villafje  common. 


4  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

It  puzzles  one  to  decide  on  what  sport  to  write  first 
or  where  to  begin  your  studies  of  traditions,  for  here, 
indeed,  is  an  embarrassment  of  riches.  If  you  arrive  in 
the  hunting  season  you  immediately  decide  that  none 
can  possibly  have  so  great  a  following,  a  conclusion  you 
straightway  realize  to  have  been  hasty  when  you  view 
the  absorbing  interest  football  excites ;  and  later,  when 
these  give  place  to  rowing  and  cricket,  you  are  persuaded 
that  each  in  its  turn  must  be  the  national  sport.  And 
thus,  if  you  will  take  my  advice,  you  had  best  leave  the 
question  of  the  most  popular  game,  for,  indeed,  every 
sport  is  the  national  one  in  its  season  ;  only  painstaking 
and  lengthy  mathematical  calculation  could  settle  the 
matter  definitely.  I  have  been  endeavoring,  since  ever 
the  good  ship  Ems  landed  me  at  Southampton,  to  deter- 
mine upon  the  particular  game  that  might  be  called  the 
national  one,  but  up  to  date  I  have  succeeded  only  in 
drawing  forth  criticism  on  my  lack  of  discernment. 

It  is  a  nation  of  sport  lovers,  from  "me  lord"  that 
follows  the  hounds,  to  the  very  costermonger  racing  his 
whippets  —  a  survival,  by -the -way,  of  the  time  of  the 
Stuarts.  Heretofore  the  particular  sport  of  the  more 
humble  classes,  whippet  racing  has  been  but  lately 
raised  to  a  more  elevated  plane.  There  is  a  move- 
ment to  make  the  sport  something  beyond  a  struggle 
between  costerraongcrs'  dogs  down  a  lane  of  shouting 
spectators,  with  the  masters  standing  at  the  finish  for 
the  encouragement  of  their  respective  entries,  and  the 
National  Whippet  Eacing  Club,  recently  organized  under 
the  presidency  of  Sir  John  Astley,  intends  inaugurating 
regular  meetings  which  it  is  hoped  may  be  made  as  fasli- 
ionable  as  they  now  are  popular. 

The  American  sportsman  marvels  at  this  enormous 
general  participation  in  all  sport,  just  as  he  stares  in  won- 


THE  ENGLISH  SPORTING   SPIRIT  7 

derment  at  the  pheasants  he  may  see  feeding  in  fields  as 
peacefully  as  barn  fowls — and  quite  as  indifferent  to  on- 
lookers— or  plentifully  stocking  the  poulterers'  shops  in 
London ;  or,  if  he  happens  to  hail  from  J^ew  York,  as  he 
is  amazed  at  having  violets  for  one  penny  (two  cents)  a 
bunch  offered  him  along  Piccadilly. 

It  seems  as  if  every  animal  and  every  tree  in  Great 
Britain  had  some  one  to  care  for  it,  and  every  English- 
man to  move  in  an  atmosphere  of  sport.  Even  the  very 
drivers  of  the  stages,  that  ramify  London  most  conven- 
iently, economically,  and  quickly,  throw  their  whip  with 
a  sportsman's  air,  and  handle  the  reins  with  a  skill  alto- 
gether superior  to  any  similar  class  of  jehus  I  have  ever 
seen.  And  what  a  good  type  of  horse  they  drive !  Would 
that  our  own  Fifth  Avenue  Stage  Company  could  be  in^ 
duced  to  replace  its  present  stock  of  tottering  and  spare- 
ribbed  toilers  with  the  stout,  good-looking  horses  of  the 
London  'bus. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  with  every  branch 
of  sport  filled  to  overflowing,  the  papers  naturally  cater 
to  the  public  taste  by  giving  unlimited  space  to  each  in 
season.  You  will  find  a  column  and  a  half  of  hunting 
meets,  and  an  entire  page  of  a  daily  sporting  paper  com- 
pletely taken  up  with  brief  reports  of  football  matches. 
The  London  papers  teem  with  fixtures — swimming,  foot- 
ball, athletics,  lacrosse,  hunting,  steeple  -  chasing,  horse- 
racing,  boxing,  racquets,  lawn-tennis,  single-stick,  fencing, 
hockey,  rabbit  -  coursing,  water  polo,  ice  and  roller  skat- 
ing, dog  shows,  cattle  shows,  horse  shows,  even  cat 
shows  (with  six  hundred  entries),  to  say  nothing  of  fairs 
and  other  such  provincial  entertainment,  with  which  we 
are  somewhat  familiar  in  our  own  country.  The  horse 
and  dog  shows  are  not  confined  to  London ;  they  are 
held  in  various  sections  of  the  country  at  different  times 


8  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

throughout  the  year,  but  in  winter  tlie  best  producing 
shires  (counties)  of  Great  Britain  send  the  pick  of  their 
horses  to  the  hacknej^  shire,  and  hunter  shows  that  are 
held  successively  at  Islington.  And  the  success  of  these 
shows  seemed  to  me  directly  traceable  to  the  Avholesome 
competition  between  counties,  which  brings  in  touch  so 
many  workers  for  the  common  betterment. 

The  types  of  mankind  I  saw  as  participants  and  spec- 
tators furnished  me  the  most  interesting  studies  of  my 
trip,  for  not  only  do  "  the  people  "  have  their  own  sports, 
but  one  finds  them  at  all  those  of  the  gentry.  If  you 
go  to  a  meeting  of  the  stag  or  fox  hounds  you  will  see 


CITTINO    OUT    THK    M'ORK 


THE   ENGLISH   SPORTING   SPIRIT  9 

— I  was  almost  going  to  say  hundreds — certainly  scores 
of  people  on  foot  as  keen  for  the  sport  as  those  on 
horseback.  You  Avill  find  them  not  only  at  the  covert 
side,  but  following  the  chase,  and  I  have  counted  them  in 
at  the  death.  This,  I  may  add,  is  much  more  common  in 
stag  than  in  fox  hunting,  because  the  configuration  of 
country  in  the  former  gives  these  enthusiasts  on  occasions 
a  better  opportunity  of  keeping  up  with  the  field.  You 
will  discover  them,  where  opportunity  affords,  on  the  golf 
links  watching  the  play,  around  the  judging  rings  of  the 
horse  shows,  as  keenly  observant  of  the  awards  as  the 
master  -  horseman ;  you  will  see  them  at  the  university 
athletic  sports,  on  the  banks  of  the  Isis  and  of  the  Cam, 
at  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  joining  in  the  general  enthu- 
siasm of  the  boat-racing,  while  at  Putney  they  will  black-, 
en  the  banks  of  the  Thames  in  front  of  the  club-houses 
of  the  two  'varsity  crews,  waiting  for  the  boats  to  be 
launched,  and  stand  for  hours  watching  the  practice. 
Keedless  to  say  you  will  find  them  in  unlimited  numbers 
at  the  football,  and  even  at  the  cricket  match,  which 
draws  a  larger  proportion  of  the  gentry  than  probably 
any  other  of  the  English  sports,  except  the  Oxford  and 
Cambridge  boat-race  on  the  Thames. 

I  think  the  character  of  spectators  at  the  horse  shows 
impressed  me  most  strongly,  because  these  are  not  the 
mere  amusement-giving  spectacles  of  a  football  match  or 
boat-race,  and  require  a  certain  love  of  the  animal  and 
an  appreciation  of  its  qualities,  and  I  thought  I  could 
detect  in  this  keen  interest  among  all  classes  that  which 
has  given  "  little  England  "  so  honorable  a  place  in  horse- 
breeding. 

It  is  after  witnessing  this  general  outpouring  of  all 
sorts  and  conditions  of  men  that  one  begins  to  understand 
why  Great  Britain  is  so  ])re-eminently  a  sporting  nation. 


10  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

Moreover,  this  interest  of  the  people  is  fostered  by  all 
English  sportsmen;  by  the  hunts,  the  universities,  and 
by  sporting  clubs.  Every  opportunity  is  taken  to  encour- 
age their  attendance.  You  may  even  read  in  your  London 
morning  paper,  while  the  Oxford  and  Cambridge  crews 
are  at  Putney  for  their  final  work,  the  precise  hour  that 
each  will  take  its  daily  practice  on  the  Thames.  There  is 
no  sport  out-of-doors,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  dis- 
cover, where  the  people  are  not  -welcome,  and  there  are  no 
spectators  more  enthusiastic  in  their  support  or  more  so- 
licitous that  the  best  man  should  win. 

Maybe  I' can  give  no  better  illustration  of  this  universal 
participation  in  sport  than  to  say  that  in  the  town  of  Ox- 
ford, which  has  a  population  of  about  50,000,  there  are 
sixteen  football  clubs,  exclusive  of  the  university  teams, 
and  that  in  Oxfordshire  {i.e.,  the  town  and  county),  with 
about  as  many  inhabitants  as  New  Haven,  the  site  of 
Yale,  there  are  upwards  of  one  hundred  teams  that  play 
the  game  regularly  throughout  the  season.  It  is  to  be 
supposed,  of  course,  that  the  interest  about  Oxford  would 
be  keener  than  elsewhere ;  but  the  illustration  is  a  fair  one, 
and  a  comparison  with  New  Haven,  which  supports  but 
very  few  teams  outside  of  the  university,  quite  in  order. 
The  number  of  football-players  in  England  is  legion.  I 
have  endeavored  to  form  some  accurate  estiniate  of  the 
total,  but  am  unable  to  get  results  in  time  for  publication 
here.  However,  I  should  say  it  would  make  a  fair  com- 
parison with  the  players  of  the  entire  United  States ; 
though  I  should  be  much  surprised  to  learn,  as  an  Eng- 
lish football  enthusiast  claimed  to  me,  that  there  were 
quite  as  many,  for  the  United  States  is  a  ver}'  large  coun- 
try, and  the  game  has  sj^read  wonderfully  and  generally 
in  the  last  two  years.  One  reads,  b^^-the-way,  of  no  silly 
and  ignorantly  based  objections  (such  as  some  of  our 


THE   ENGLISH  SPORTING   SPIRIT  13 

papers  printed  last  winter)  to  football  in  England,  which 
is  hardly  explained  by  the  play  not  being  so  hard  or  so 
"  brutal "  as  ours,  for  the  accidents  in  Association  games 
are  greatly  in  excess  of  what  we  have,  but  because  the 
nation  knows  by  long  experience  that  it  is  good  for  the 
coming  generation,  and  the  "disturbing  brother"  dare  not 
raise  his  voice. 

Another 'illustration  of  the  widespread  popularity  of 
athletics  that  extends  to  the  very  lowest  social  stratum,  is 
furnished  by  the  association  of  restaurant  waiters  in  Lon- 
don, which,  although  hardly  amateur,  nevertheless  em- 
phasizes Avhat  I  am  endeavoring  to  tell  the  American 
public  of  the  universal  sporting  spirit  in  England.  In- 
deed, even  the  advertisement  columns  of  the  London  press 
bespeak  the  breadth  of  this  spirit,  for  one  reads  of  some 
very  curious  matches,  which  the  following,  quoted  ver- 
hatim^  will  go  to  prove : 


MR.  FURNISS  will  sing  a  linnet  against  a  linnet,  one  in  the  mouth, 
an  home-and-home  race,  for  £2  a  side.  A  match  can  be  made 
by  calling  at  the  Elephant  and  Castle,  Orchard  Street,  Westminster,  any 
evening  after  eight  p.m." 


It  may  be  opportune  to  comment,  in  passing,  on  the  ex- 
ceedingly low  entrance  fee  to  all  sporting  entertainments 
in  Great  Britain.  The  popular  charge  at  athletic,  foot- 
ball, and  cricket  matches  is  a  shilling  (25  cents),  with 
probably  a  sixpence  (12  cents),  or  two  shillings  at  most, 
to  the  reserved  enclosure;  at  the  horse  shows  a  shilling 
gives  you  admission,  and  sixpence  buys  your  catalogue. 

There  is  something  going  on  all  the  time,  winter  and 
summer.  Those  who  cannot  or  care  not  to  ride  to  hounds 
follow  the  harriers  or  the  beagles  or  the  otter-hounds  on 
foot,  of  which  there  are  a  number  of  packs  in  the  coun- 
try, or  attend  the  military  tournaments  in  London,  where 


14  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

they  see  the  most  skilful  lemon  -  cutting,  tent -pegging, 
fencing,  single  -  stick  play,  bareback  wrestling,  and  other 
feats  common  to  such  entertainments,  while  boxing  and 
water  polo  and  all  known  out  -  door  games  on  land  and 
water  give  ample  field  for  the  expansion  of  athletic  ten- 
dencies. Even  lacrosse,  one  of  the  very  few  American 
games  that  were  not  cradled  in  England,  flourishes,  I  am 
sorry  to  say  (sorry  for  our  sportsmanship,  though  glad  for 
the  sake  of  a  grand  game),  more  than  it  does  in  the  United 
States.  There  are  several  county  teams,  and  a  regularl}^ 
instituted  championship. 

Baseball,  too,  is  struggling  for  an  existence.  It  may 
not  be  said  to  have  actually  attained  favor  in  England, 
but  there  is  a  serious  attempt  to  introduce  it  among  the 
])rofessional  association  foot-ball'  clubs  in  order  to  give 
players  a  summer  game,  and  club  managers  an  opportuni- 
ty for  reimbursement  after  the  drain  incidental  to  high- 
salaried  cracks.  Nothing  tangible  has  developed,  how- 
ever, and  the  game  seems  to  have  done  better  among  the 
amateurs,  in  the  several  districts  where  it  has  been  at- 
tempted. Three  or  four  years  ago  there  was  not  an  ama- 
teur club  in  all  England,  but  in  1893  a  dozen  or  more  com- 
peted for  senior  and  junior  trophies,  and  immediately 
about  London  there  is  a  sufficient  number  to  have  estab- 
lished a  local-supremacy  contest  in  the  season  just  closed. 
Still,  the  game  is  not  played  by  the  best  class,  or,  in  most 
instances,  by  even  a  good  class  of  athletes. 

That  the  bicycle  is  quite  as  popular  in  England  as  in 
America  may  be  supposed,  and  I  might  add  that  the  ama- 
teur status  of  the  racing  men  is  even  more  questionable,  if 
that  be  possible.  As  with  us,  the  manufacturer's  hireling 
has  professionalized  the  sport  from  end  to  end  of  Great 
Britain,  and  driven  hona  fide  amateurs  out  of  active  com- 
petition.    The  present  state  of  aff'airs,  indeed,  is  deplor- 


^. 


'f>W^ 


THE    ENGLISH   SPORTING   SPIRIT  l7 

able,  and  the  Cyclists'  Union  seems  not  only  to  be  unable 
to  improve  it,  but,  worse  to  relate,  has  recently  passed. 
resolutions  which  emphasize  its  indifference  to  the  situ- 
ation. 

Track  athletes  are  countless,  and  although  not  quite  such 
flagrant  offenders  against  the  ethics  of  amateur  sport  as 
the  racing  class  of  cyclists — chiefly  because  the  Amateur 
Athletic  Association  has  some  very  earnest  workers,  and 
does  honestly  strive  to  keep  athletics  clean — the  general 
amateur  status  none  the  less  is  considerably  below  the 
standard  of  purity. 

Book-makers  at  games  are  all  too  common,  and  ^'  sharp  " 
practices  that  go  even  so  far  as  "  roping,"  selling  races, 
and  running  men  "  to  order,"  are  prevalent  at  nearly  all 
the  meetings.  Outside  of  the  universities  and  a  very  few 
clubs — so  few  as  to  be  counted  on  the  fingers  of  one  hand 
— one  may  say  there  is  no  honesty  (from  an  amateur 
point  of  view)  in  athletics  in  all  of  England.  Certainly  a 
disgraceful  state  of  affairs  in  a  nation  of  such  sporting- 
proclivities. 

Although  our  own  condition,  outside  of  the  colleges,  is 
not  all  that  we  should  like  it  to  be,  yet  is  there  much  to 
be  thankful  for  that  we  have  not  reached  such  a  depth 
of  athletic  degradation. 

It  is  gratifying  to  record  in  this  sweeping  denuncia- 
tion of  English  track  athletics  that  the  Scottish  Amateur 
Athletic  Association,  in  making  strenuous  efforts  to  cleanse 
its  ranks,  recently  passed  some  rules  to  the  point,  among 
others  "  that  the  payment  by  clubs,  to  competitors,  of 
travelling,  hotel,  and  other  expenses  is  strictly  prohibited." 
I  should  explain  that  this  expense  question  is  one  of  the 
loop-holes  for  the  escape  of  the  dishonestly  inclined.  It 
will  amuse  American  athletes  to  read  that  this  Associa- 
tion has  just  reached  the  modern  methods  long  in  vogue 


18  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

with  US  by  deciding  that  in  broad  jumping  "  any  competi- 
tor touching  the  pit  in  front  of  the  taking-off  mark  shall 
have  such  jump  disallowed." 

That  cross-country  running  flourishes  in  England  may 
be  imagined  when  I  say  that  at  the  Junior  championships 
which  I  attended  near  London,  although  the  rain  came 
down  in  torrents  throughout  the  entire  afternoon,  and  the 
going  was  extremely  heavy,  upwards  of  130  competitors 
finished  out  of  150  starters,  and  some  2000  spectators 
remained  to  the  end.  But,  sad  to  relate,  here,  too,  the 
amateur  status  is  quite  as  reprehensible  as  in  the  track 
athletics. 

I  have  already  alluded  to  the  great  numbers  that  play 
football,  and  it  is  too  bad  to  spoil  the  picture  by  adding 
that  outside  of  the  universities  its  ethical  standard  is  only 
a  very  little  above  that  of  track  athletics. 

Professionalism  infests  the  game  literally  from  end  to 
end  of  Great  Britain.  In  Association  football  it  is  legal- 
ized, and  regularly  organized  leagues  like  unto  our  profes- 
sional baseball  are  maintained;  but  there  are  also  innumer- 
able clubs  that,  while  posing  as  amateur,  are  really  as  far 
from  being  such  as  those  who  openly  hire  their  players. 
Indeed,  the  professional  taint  so  thoroughly  permeates 
Association  football  wherever  it  is  played,  that  outside 
of  the  universities  few  club  teams  are  honestly  amateur. 
Rugby  Union  has  not  fallen  so  far  from  grace,  though 
the  pro-amateur  abounds  and  is  increasing;  but,  thanks 
to  the  supervision  of  efficient  officials,  there  yet  remains 
plenty  of  genuine  amateur  Rugby  football. 

Of  horse-racing  and  steeple-chasing  I  can  only  say  now, 
before  treating  them  at  length  anotlier  time,  that  both 
attract  vast  crowds,  and  the  condition  of  the  second,  out- 
siile  of  the  hunt  clubs,  provokes  unceasing  scandal. 

I  have  not  touched  on  sport  witli  rod  and  gun,  because 


r?5 


:i    -^^L-J 


^'^ 


THE  ENGLISH  SPOUTING  SPIRIT  21 

my  visit  to  England  was  not  in  the  season  for  me  to  liave 
seen  any  of  it.  It  is  difficult  for  me,  however,  after  mov- 
ing in  the  atmosphere  of  this  great  sporting  nation,  to 
reconcile  with  other  impressions  the  Englishman's  pheas- 
ant and  grouse  driving,  where  hundreds  of  birds  are 
slaughtered,  and  the  size  of  the  bag  seems  to  be  the 
chief  attainment.  The  American  sportsman,  who  declines 
to  shoot  a  doe,  and  is  satisfied  when  his  bag  is  large 
enough  to  furnish  a  bird  to  his  own  table  and  to  a  few  of 
his  friends,  finds  it  hard  to  bring  himself  in  touch  with 
this  side  of  the  British  sportsman. 

Probably  it  is  a  degree  of  refinement  in  sport  we  have 
not  yet  reached,  nor,  if  I  know  the  American  sportsman 
(I  ignore  the  few  men  who  jack  and  hound  deer),  are  we 
likely  ever  to  develop  it.  It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  a 
certain  skill  is  required  to  bring  down  every  rocketing 
pheasant  that  comes  within  reach  of  your  gun,  or  every 
hard-going  grouse  on  which  you  pull  trigger ;  but  sitting 
behind  battues  and  having  your  game  driven  to  you  seems, 
from  an  American  point  of  view,  to  savor  more  of  "  pot 
hunting  "  than  sport. 

This  chapter  would  be  incomplete  were  I  not  to  com- 
ment on  an  exhibition  of  yacht  models  and  of  canoes 
and  small  sailing-craft  I  had  the  good-fortune  to  attend 
in  London.  I  want  particularly  to  mention  it  because 
it  appears  to  offer  a  suggestion  to  American  yacht  and 
canoe  men  that  is  well  worth  considering.  As  I  have 
elsewhere  intimated,  the  great  secret  of  the  universal 
interest  in  all  kinds  of  sport  in  England  seems  to  me 
to  be  the  publicity  of  it  all;  the  opportunity  every  man 
so  inclined  has  of  being  a  spectator,  if  not  a  participant ; 
the  taking,  as  it  were,  of  the  public  into  their  confidence 
by  the  sportsmen.  Unquestionably  it  is  true  that  if  you 
wish  to  excite  general  attention,  whether  in  sport  or  what 


SAILING    ON    THE    ISIS    AT   OXFORD 

Showing  Shape  and  Rigging  of  the  Local  Centre  boarder 


not,  the  surest  way  of  doing  so  is  to  give  the  people  a  look 
in,  and  one  cannot  realize  just  how  many  different  kinds 
and  classes  may  be  interested  until  the  experiment  has 
been  made. 

Here  at  this  show  in  London,  for  instance,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  the  crowds  of  landsmen,  I  saw  all  classes  of  yachts- 
men, from  those  owning  a  racing  eighty -footer  or  a  sea- 
going steam-yacht  down  to  the  very  waterman  that  plies 
his  trade  on  the  Thames. 

There  seems  to  be  no  good  reason  why  our  yacht  clubs — 
the  New  York,  the  Larchmont,  the  P^astern,  the  Seawan- 
haka-Corinthian.  and  canoe  clubs,  of  which  there  are  so 
many,  should  not  unite  in  one  general  and  certainly  very 
instructive  exhibition  of  models.  Aside  from  the  pleasure 
it  would  give  yacht  and  canoe  men,  there  can  be  no  doubt 


THE   ENGLISH   SPORTING  SPIRIT  23 

of  its  creating  a  more  universal  yachting  spirit  among  our 
people  ;  and  that,  it  appears  to  me,  is  worth  trying  for. 

It  will  be  liardly  necessary  to  discuss  English  yacht 
lines,  of  which  there  were,  at  this  show,  models  of  about 
every  type,  for  our  international  contests  have  made 
them  rather  familiar.  Those  of  the  cruising-canoes  and 
small  sailing-craft,  however,  are  rather  strange  to  us,  the 
lines  being  much  fuller  and  the  construction  much  heav- 
ier— a  style  of  craft  made  necessary  by  the  open  waters 
on  which  some  of  the  sailing  is  done.  The  exhibition  of 
racing-canoes  was  meagre,  but  the  few  shown  proved  that 
the  English  designers  could  study  American  models  with 
profit,  while  the  sail  area  was  very  much  smaller,  com- 
paratively speaking,  than  what  we  are  accustomed  to  see 
on  our  waters.  The  "  Canadian "  canoes  on  view  were 
hardly  up  to  the  best  products  of  that  home  of  canoe 
men,  and  were  more  than  likely  built  in  England  and 
dubbed  Canadian  for  trade  purposes. 

The  most  interesting  feature  of  the  exhibition  was  a 
style  of  craft  put  down  on  the  catalogue  as  a  canoe- 
yawl.  This  is  built  for  river  and  estuary  sailing,  and 
the  one  I  particularly  studied  was  about  eighteen  feet 
long  by  four  and  one-half  feet  beam — certainly  a  most 
stanch-looking  little  affair,  but  fitted  with  much  less  sail 
than  it  seemed  it  should  be  able  to  carry.  These  yawls 
are  built  also  for  sea-going  purposes,  and  used  consider- 
ably as  tenders  on  sailing-yachts  of  over  eighty  tons,  in 
which  case  they  measure  about  twenty  feet  water-line 
length  by  five  feet  beam.  Just  at  the  time  I  am  writing 
the  Eoyal  Canoe  Club  is  busy  considering  a  change  of 
rules  regarding  the  modelling  and  constructing  of  racing- 
canoes.  The  bulb  keel  has  appeared,  and  there  seems  to 
be  a  general  tendency,  as  with  us,  to  keep  from  building 
mere  racing-machines. 


II 

RIDING  TO   HOUNDS 

IN    THE    "  shires" 

In  England,  ridins:  to  hounds  forms  a  component  part 
of  the  sportsman's  education.  You  need  not  go  into  the 
country  to  learn  the  lesson.  You  have  only  to  walk  about 
London  for  complete  conviction,  as  hunting  subjects  greet 
you  at  every  turning — in  the  daily  and  weekly  press,  on 
the  walls  of  the  hotels,  and  in  the  shop  windows.  Wher- 
ever you  go  in  the  country  you  find  the  same  evidence. 
Farmers  and  cabbies,  almost  invariably  to  be  seen  in 
breeches  and  leggings,  adorn  their  wives  and  sweethearts 
with  sporting  jewelry,  and  follow  the  runs  of  the  local 
hunt  enthusiastically,  while  even  the  time-honored  cock  of 
the  weather-vane,  that  rules  undisturbed  in  most  countries, 
is,  in  rural  England,  superseded  by  Eeynard. 

It  will  give  results  somewhat  interesting  to  cast  up  the 
number  of  men  and  women  who  during  the  season  ride  to 
hounds,  though  I  do  not  pretend  to  absolutely  authentic 
figures,  but  present  merely  a  bit  of  rough  calculation  that 
will  convey  an  idea  of  its  popularity.  There  are  about 
168  packs  of  fox  and  14  of  stag  hounds  in  England,  20  of 
fox  and  5  of  stag  hounds  in  Ireland,  and  10  of  fox-hounds 
in  Scotland,  with  kennels  holding  all  the  way  from  12  to 
80  couple  each.  Tiie  Meath  (Ireland)  hounds  are  out  five 
days  of  the  seven,  but  all  the  Leicestershire  and  the  best 
''provincial'''  i)acks   in  England,  the  Tipperary,  the  Kil- 


RIDING  TO   HOUNDS-IN   THE   "SHIRES"  25 

dare  (Ireland),  the  Duke  of  Buccleucli's,  and  the  Earl  of 
Eghnton's  (Scotland)  hunt  four  days. 

A  very  large  number,  of  course,  meet  three  days,  and  a 
few  packs  of  fox-hounds  in  less-favored  districts  and  prac- 
tically all  the  stag-hounds  hunt  only  twice  each  week,  so 
that  three  would  probably  be  the  fair  average  figure  of 
weekly  runs. 

The  average  number  of  mounts  at  the  meets  is  not  so 
easily  estimated ;  in  the  "  shires "  500  is  not  unusual  in 


ON    THE    EXMUORS — GOING    TO    COVKKl 


the  height  of  the  season,  rarely  less  than  300  are  seen, 
and  200  is  considered  somewhat  of  a  poor  turning  out. 
In  the  Meath  country,  the  Leicestershire  of  Ireland,  300 
would  probably  be  a  gala  field  and  200  the  usual  limit. 
With  the  Devon  and  Somerset  stag-hounds,  which  stand 
first  in  quality  of  sport  and  second  to  none  in  quantity  of 
following,  the  fields  are  of  huge  proportions,  as  the  illus- 
tration of  the  Cloutsham  meet  will  show.     Your  Devon- 


26  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

shire  host  will  smile  compassionately  as  3^011  wax  eloquent 
over  the  big  Jiekls  of  500  3'ou  have  seen  at  the  Quorn 
covert-side,  and  take  you  out  the  next  day  to  a  meet  at 
the  Quantocks,  and  show  3^ou,  likely  as  not,  half  as  many 
again,  on  foot  and  in  saddle,  awaiting  the  "  Hark  togeth- 
er!  hark  !  and  forrard  away"  of  huntsman  Anthony  Hux- 
table  as  the  noblest  beast  of  chase  breaks  covert.  But 
there  is  only  one  Exmoor  and  one  pack  of  real  stag-hunt- 
ing hounds  in  England. 

The  Ward  Union,  in  the  Meath  country,  and  her  Majes- 
ty's, and  Lord  de  Rothschild's  are  the  most  prominent  of 
the  other  stag-hounds,  and  attract  about  equally'  in  number 
of  following,  which  would  be  that  between  the  "  shires  " 
and  the  more  popular  provinces;  in  the  best  of  the  latter, 
200  is  not  an  infrequent  field  and  100  an  average.  AVhile 
few  meets  in  England  fail  to  bring  out  100  horsemen 
and  women,  there  are  packs  in  outlying  and  sparsely 
settled  districts  where  not  more  than  50  may  be  seen  at 
the  covert-side.  It  seems  as  if  100  Avould  be  a  fair  num- 
ber, but  to  be  within  bounds  let  us  call  75  the  average 
that  hunt  three  times  a  week,  or  225  at  each  covert-side, 
which,  multiplied  by  the  number  of  hunts  (217),  gives  the 
very  considerable  figure  of  48,825  that  are  following 
hounds  ever}^  week  of  England's  season  of  five  months. 
Even  taking  50  as  the  average  number,  which  is  greatly 
underestimated,  I  think,  we  yet  have  the  very  respectable 
total  of  32,550,  and  this  computation  has  ignored  com- 
pletely the  Harriers,  of  which  there  are  108  packs  in  Eng- 
land alone,  27  in  Ireland,  and  3  in  Scotland,  with  from  8 
to  35  couple  each,  to  say  nothing  of  the  35  packs  of  beagles 
in  England.  To  be  sure,  these  do  not  have  such  a  follow- 
ing as  the  fox  and  stag  hounds,  but  nevertheless  they 
swell  the  grand  total,  and  give  strength  to  the  argument, 
often  heard  after  a  good   day's  run,  that   hunting  has 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS-IN  THE  "SHIRES"  29 

about  as  many  active  followers  among  the  best  class  as 
football  or  cricket. 

What  shall  we  say  now"  of  a  national  sport  after  this 
showing?  Kiding  to  hounds  would  seem  to  demand  some 
consideration  in  the  calculation,  these  figures  being  un- 
questioned proof  of  its  popularity,  while  the  amount  of 
capital  expended  annually  in  the  chase  is  greater  prob- 
ably than  that  in  all  the  other  sports  combined, 

A  few  years  ago  the  usual  estimate  for  maintaining  a 
thoroughly  first-class  pack  was  $2500  per  year  for  every 
day  hunted ;  then  it  went  up  to  $3000,  and  now  it  will  av- 
erage very  close  to  $3500,  making  an  annual  cost  of  $10,500 
for  three  days  a  week's  chase  of  the  little  red  animal,  while 
in  the  "shires"  it  will  fall  but  very  little  short  of  $15,000, 
if,  indeed,  it  will  not  in  some  instances  run  higher. 

And  all  this  a  tribute  to  fashion !  The  sportsmen  of 
the  old  regime  were  not  so  fastidious  as  to  pink  and  tops, 
nor  required  such  a  retinue  of  servants.  Hunting  was 
the  sole  incentive,  and  they  had  fully  as  much  sport  and 
killed  just  about  as  many  foxes,  even  if  their  hunts  were 
not  turned  out  in  such  elaborate  fashion.  Nowadays, 
however,  the  master  who  neglects  to  put  the  hunt  afield 
in  the  best  style  fails  in  office  quite  as  much  as  if  he 
missed  giving  good  sport.  The  huntsman,  two  whippers- 
in,  and  two  second  horsemen  must  all  be  turned  out  in 
pink  and  leathers,  and  the  huntsman  and  first  whip  have 
two  good  horses  a  day;  and  it  takes  money,  and  plent}'' 
of  it,  to  support  a  hunt  on  this  scale.  Then  there  is  the 
servant  who  goes  afoot  to  dig  out  the  fox  when  he  has 
gone  to  earth,  and  the  eight  to  ten  dollars  to  the  game- 
keepers for  each  find  on  their  respective  beats.  Besides 
which  horses  and  hounds  have  frequently  to  be  conveyed 
by  train  to  distant  meets,  while  there  are  few  hunts -that 
are  not  obliged  to  hire  coverts  to  save  them  from  falling 


30  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

into  the  hands  of  shooting  tenants,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
care  and  expense  of  keeping  them  up  once  the}^  are 
rented. 

It  is  not  very  difficult  to  see  where  $10,000  to  $15,000 
per  year  goes  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  basis  of  all 
this  sport  and  fashion  is  the  kennels  and  stables,  with 
their  50  to  60  couple  of  hounds  and  30  to  40  head  of 
horses,  that  must  be  fed  and  receive  the  very  best  of  care 
from  the  most  capable  and  trustworthy  attendants. 

Then,  too,  there  is  the  damage  fund,  which  grows 
larger  as  cultivation  extends,  and  that  hUe  noire  of  the 
English  hunting-field,  the  free  lance,  increases  in  numbers 
and  impudence.  Not  that  all  free  lances  are  wilfully  de- 
structive, but  they  are  quite  a  number  in  that  large  class 
of  men  who,  owning  not  an  acre  themselves,  fail  to  real- 
ize that  while  no  single  individual  may  cause  a  very  great 
amount  of  destruction,  the  combined  efforts  of  a  large 
field  will  make  sufficient  havoc  to  work  serious  injury  to 
the  farmer  who,  even  with  fortune  smihng  upon  him,  can 
barely  make  both  ends  meet. 

The  free-lance  problem  is  an  ever-vexing  one  in  Eng- 
land, and,  indeed,  I  think  the  English  hunting  season  re- 
veals more  men  who  live  at  some  one  else's  expense  than 
may  be  found  at  any  one  time  or  place  on  this  earth. 
These  light-hearted  souls  flit  from  shire  to  shire,  some- 
times taking  their  own  cattle,  quite  as  often  exacting  a 
mount  from  the  good-natured  and  well -provided  friends 
with  whom  they  invariably  stop,  and  never  by  any  chance 
put  themselves  down  for  a  shilling  on  the  hunt  clubs' 
subscription-books.  All  sorts  of  schemes  have  been  sug- 
gested to  I'un  this  hunting  parasite  to  earth,  an  elaborate 
system  of  badges  among  otliers,  but  lie  will  probably 
continue  his  flight  unmolested  until  masters  introduce  a 
sliding-scale  subscription  and  insist  that  every  man  who 


AX    ORDINAKV    •I'llOllN-HKIMiK    AM)    DIirH 


RIDING   TO   HOUNDS— IN   THE  "SHIRES"  ;3;3 

follows  the  hounds  shall  pay  his  mite  towards  their  main- 
tenance. At  present  a  subscriber  puts  down  his  name  for 
a  lump  sum  whether  he  rides  one  day  or  the  four,  and  the 
necessary  feature  seems  to  be  a  fee  that  will  discriminate. 
It  certainl}"  is  not  fair  that  the  man  who  has  a  couple  or 
three  hunters  and  turns  out  once  or  twice  a  week,  should 
subscribe  so  much  as  the  one  with  a  stud  of  ten  or  a 
dozen,  and  who  hunts  every  day  of  the  six. 

As  a  general  thing,  the  sporting  spirit  of  the  English- 
man makes  him  careful  of  injuring  the  farmer,  and  punc- 
tilious in  paying  for  the  damage  he  inflicts.  And  in  this 
he  is  met  more  than  half-way  by  the  farmer  himself, 
whose  sportsmanship,  indeed,  has  been  severely  tested  by 
the  droughts  and  poor  crops  of  the  past  few  seasons.  In 
fact,  I  am  quite  sure  that  nowhere  is  the  general  sport- 
ing spirit  of  England  so  much  in  evidence  as  in  the 
hunting  field.  The  most  democratic  gathering  in  Great 
Britain  may  be  seen  at  the  covert-side,  where  nobilit}^,  un- 
titled gentry,  and  labor  often  meet  for  a  purpose  common 
to  all.  Horseflesh  maintains  a  more  universal  aristocracy, 
for,  as  a  rule,  the  average  is  about  the  same,  each  country 
requiring  a  standard  which  all  endeavor  to  reach,  whether 
to  be  in  the  vogue,  or  for  the  more  practical  purpose  of 
living  with  the  hounds. 

I  think,  however,  the  most  surprising  experience  to  the 
on-looking  American  at  the  covert- side  is  the  number  of 
people  on  foot  he  sees,  not  only  at  the  throw -ofl",  but 
throughout  the  run. 

Only  those  thoroughly  well  acquainted  with  the  coun- 
try can  hope  to  find  "  shanks'  mare  "  a  satisfactory  mount, 
but  these  seem  almost  by  instinct  to  know  the  direction 
in  which  the  fox  is  running,  and  you  are  sure  to  find  a 
fair  percentage  invariably  up  with  the  hounds  when  there 
happens  to  be  a  check,  unless,  of  course,  the  run  has  been 

3 


34  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

of  that  rapturous  nature  described  as  "  a  quick  thing  over 
a  grass  country,  strongly  enclosed,  in  a  good  place,  and 
only  half  a  dozen  men  with  tlie  hounds."  And  the  most 
notable  feature  of  this  outpouring  is  that  not  all  on  foot 
are,  as  one  might  naturally  suppose,  the  hale  and  hearty 
members  of  the  country's  youth;  hale  and  hearty  are 
they,  to  be  sure,  and  of  both  sexes,  but  many  there  are 
walking  in  the  long  shadows  of  their  life's  sun. 

The  hunting -fields  of  England  are  by  no  means  mo- 
nopolized by  the  early  lustiness  of  vigorous  manhood ;  at 
every  meet  I  attended  I  saw  men  in  the  "  sear  and  yellow," 
who,  while  probably  taking  few  of  the  jumps — a  comment 
equally  applicable  to  the  majority  of  an  English  field — 
usually  kept  as  close  to  the  hounds  as  the  average  of 
much  younger  years. 

Even  the  people — the  tillers  of  the  soil,  the  miners  in 
the  collieries,  the  workmen  in  the  foundries,  the  artisans 
in  the  factories  —  are  all  thoroughly  imbued  with  the 
spirit,  and  in  districts  where  these  industries  flourish,  and 
where  hunting  is  carried  on  despite  the  encroachments  of 
trade,  begrimed  laborers  join  in  the  chase  as  enthusiasti- 
cally as  the  most  faultlessly  attired  gentry  in  pink.  Es- 
pecially is  this  true  of  Nottinghamshire  and  Yorkshire, 
Avhere,  when  a  covert  is  drawn  near  by,  the  foundries  are 
deserted  until  the  last  laggard  has  passed  out  of  sight. 

Fortunately,  indeed,  the  configuration  of  the  country 
permits  these  vast  crowds  with  little  hinderance  to  the 
sport.  Luckily  may  it  be  said  that  practically  every  en- 
closure has  an  outlet,  towards  which  the  overwhelming 
rush  that  follows  "  gone  away "  furnishes  one  of  the 
sights  of  English  hunting. 

While  these  tremendous  fields  are  picturesque,  and  un- 
doubted evidences  of  a  far-reaching  interest,  they  have 
drawbacks  nevertheless ;  for  once  the  crowd  has  crushed 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS— IN  THE  "SHIRES" 


35 


its  way  through  the  first  gate,  it  becomes  a  huge  caval- 
cade of  point  to  point  riders,  that  from  the  vantage  of  an 
undulating  country  may  view  the  direction  of  the  hounds, 
making  short-cuts,  wliich  not  infrequently  head  the  fox, 
and  justly  enough  kindle  the  wrath  of  the  master  and  the 
few  of  the  first  flight. 

As  for  the  traps,  their  number  is  legion,  for  so  surely 
as  all  roads  lead  to  Rome,  so  surely  do  all  roads  in  Eng- 
land lead  to  a  covert-side,  and  they  are  filled  to  overflow- 
ing for  at  least  three  days  of  every  hunting  Aveek.  The 
number  of  women  in  the  saddle  at  an  English  or  Irish 
meet  is  considerable;  but  though  the  percentage  who 
ride  a  straight  line  is  very  small,  the  Avork  of  that  few 
is  nothing  short  of  astonishing.     Their  endurance  is  alto- 


WATER    DITCH    AND    HEDGE-TOPPED    BANK    IN    THE    QUORN    COUNTRY 


36  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

gether  remarkable :  day  after  day  they  will  be  found  at 
the  covert-side,  hacking  probably  ten  miles  to  the  meet, 
to  hunt  all  day  and  then  hack  back  again — keeping  it  up 
week  in  and  week  out  of  the  season.  The  character  of 
English  and  Irish  jumping  renders  such  constant  going 
possible,  whereas  in  America  our  timber  fences  make  an 
eventual  wreck  of  the  healthiest  woman,  if  she  persist  in 
following  hounds  every  day  thev  are  out.  The  explana- 
tion is  simple :  the  English  horse  takes  the  ditch,  or  thorn 
fence,  in  his  stride  with  little  checking;  the  American 
stops  up  short,  bucks  over  the  post  and  rails,  and  is  off 
again  with  another  jerk.  The  woman's  back  during  this 
gymnastic  performance  gets  severe  wrenching  and  twist- 
ing. 

In  very  few  parts  of  Great  Britain  are  the  farmers  not 
in  touch  and  active  sympathy  with  the  hunts,  and  in  the 
greater  percentage  of  the  provincial  districts  they  are  to 
be  seen  in  the  field  on  good  cattle.  As  a  rule,  the  farmer 
of  England  is  not  only  a  lover  of  good  horse-flesh,  but  has 
always  been  a  large  and  expert  breeder.  The  times  have 
not  dealt  kindly  with  him,  however,  of  recent  years,  so 
that  in  the  month  of  my  visit,  February,  1894,  several 
consecutively  bad  seasons  had  compelled  him  to  sell  the 
pick  of  his  stable,  and  left  him  in  sore  financial  straits. 
Should  the  current  ^^ear  duplicate  the  drought  of  the  last 
two,  which  put  the  price  of  hay  up  to  fifty  dollars  a  ton, 
and  that  of  grain  at  a  proportionately  exalted  figure,  it  is 
hard  to  say  how  he  will  withstand  the  additional  drain 
on  resources  that  have  already  dwindled  to  slenderest  pro- 
portions. 

Yet,  notwithstaiuling  these  hard  times,  the  sporting 
spirit  of  the  English  farmer  rings  true.  And  with  good 
reason  the  farmer,  the  landlord,  and  the  tradesman  are 
friendly  to  hunting,  since  it  employs  the  first,  increases 


RIDING  TO   HOUNDS— IN  THE   "SHIRES' 


37 


the  rent-roll  of  the  second,  and  fills  the  till  of  the  third, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  hundreds  upon  hundreds  of  ser- 
vants that  find  good  berths  in  the  stables,  kennels,  and 
fields.  I^ay,  more:  it  has  helped  build  a  number  of 
towns  in  England,  and  Melton-Mowbray,  Croft,  Market- 
Ilarborough,  Chipping -N"orton,  and  Chelmsford  owe  a 
great  deal  of  their  present  prosperity  to  the  hunting,  of 
which  they  have  been  made  centres.     The  exact  figures 


m. 


A    TIIOUN    KKM'K    IN    THE    BEL  VOIR   COUNTRY 


have  slipped  me,  but  I  think  it  is  something  like  $50,000 
a  season  that  the  tradesmen  of  Melton-Mowbray  derive 
directly  from  hunting,  and  while  that  does  not  very  likely 
sound  to  Americans  as  a  figure  large  enough  to  instance, 
it  is  nevertheless  a  goodly  sum  to  be  distributed  among 
the  handful  of  tradespeople  in  any  small  country  village 
of  5000  to  6000  inhabitants  like  Melton-Mowbray. 

Hunting  does  more  for  the  farmer  than,  with  excep- 


38  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

tionally  intelligent  cases,  he  realizes,  and  one  wonders 
almost  as  much  at  the  impolicy  of  the  ignorant  brute 
who  surrounds  his  field  with  barbed  wire,  as  at  the  vi- 
cious knave  that  runs  its  all  but  invisible  deadliness- 
through  the  top  of  a  thorn  hedge. 

And  how  many  a  gallant  heart  has  been  stilled  by  the 
deadly  work  of  the  invisible  wire !  England,  and  likewise 
America,  for  we  too  have  our  list  of  martyred  sportsmen, 
needs  a  law  to  deal  severely  with  these  despicable  creat- 
ures. The  farmer  that  does  not  wish  his  land  ridden 
over,  and  is  not  a  churl,  will  surround  it  with  stiff,  honest 
fencing ;  or,  if  he  does  put  up  wire,  advertise  it  by  a  top 
board.  But  as  for  running  wire  through  a  hedge  !  he 
might,  so  far  as  the  peril  run  by  the  riders  is  concerned, 
conceal  loaded  mines  about  his  premises,  to  be  fired  by  un- 
suspecting sportsmen. 

The  farmer  of  American  hunting  districts  does  not  owe 
so  much  to  the  sport  as  does  the  Englishman,  and,  while 
it  is  criminal  enough  in  both  to  surround  their  enclosures 
with  concealed  wire,  the  latter  adds  downright  baseless 
ingratitude  to  his  knavery  when  he  lays  traps  in  the  hunt- 
ing man's  path. 

But  the  farmer  in  England  who  is  inimical  to  the  hunt 
is  the  exception ;  as  a  rule,  he  is  a  stanch  supporter  (in- 
deed, he  is  the  mainstay  of  some  hunts),  raises  horses  (to 
be  sure,  with  an  eye  to  future  and  personal  aggrandize- 
ment or  he  would  not  be  mortal),  takes  the  puppies  out  to 
walk,  and  is  a  helpful  and  sympathetic  member  of  the 
hunting  district. 

The  clubs  appreciate  the  pleasure,  as  well  as  the  value, 
of  the  present  happy  relations  existing  between  themselves 
and  the  farmers,  and  members  are  carefully  and  contin- 
uously cautioned  against  doing  unnecessary  injury,  and 
damage  is  conscientiously  paid  for  to  the  very  last  penny, 


John  Burton  Sc  Sons 


THOKN  FENCE  IN  THE  COTTESMORE  COUNTKY 


which,  while  being  surely  the  only  fair  and  politic  course, 
nevertheless  shows  that  the  spirit  of  the  hunting  set  tow- 
ards the  farmers  over  whose  land  they  ride  is  not  one  of 
studied  arrogance. 

As  a  consequence,  the  coverts  are  well  kept  up  (most  of 
them  are  artificially  stocked,  though  it  is  not  acknowl- 
edged above  a  whisper  in  England),  foxes  preserved,  keep- 
ers handsomely  rewarded  on  a  find,  and  a  general  har- 
mony maintained  towards  the  end  of  good  sport. 

And  the  history  of  fox-hunting— who  will  say  how  far 
it  goes  back  ?  Horse,  hound,  and  horn  seem  ever  to  have 
been  sporting  emblems  of  England's  gentry,  even  of  roy- 
alty ;  for  did  we  not  learn  with  our  first  lessons  in  his- 
tory that  Alfred  the  Great  and  several  of  his  successors 
were  ardent  in  the  chase  of  stag  and  boar?  And  yet 
English  literature  is  particularly  and  regretably  devoid 
of  the  picturesque  and  reminiscent  side  of  hunting,  of 
which  surely  there  must  have  been  material  without  end. 


40  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

The  earliest  manuscript,  dating  from  the  beginning  of  the 
fourteenth  century,  and  which  is  in  the  Cotton  Library 
of  the  British  Museum,  fails  to  light  up  this  side  of  the 
sport,  and  these  first  days  of  hunting  remain  dark  ages 
indeed,  since,  but  for  the  exceptionally  stray  and  more 
or  less  unauthentic  bits  here  and  there,  we  know  com- 
paratively little  of  it  up  to  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century. 

Historians  differ  on  the  exact  date  hounds  were  entered 
solely  to  fox,  varying  between  1730  and  1750  ;  but,  at  any 
rate,  it  is  definitely  known  that  not  until  the  beginning 
of  the  eighteenth  century  did  fox-hunting  proper  become 
a  pastime,  and  that  Mr.  Meynell,  the  father  of  the  modern 
sport,  lived  in  1782. 

Previous  to  1750,  most  of  the  sport  was  furnished  by 
joining  in  one  common  pack  for  the  day's  chase  the  sev- 
eral kennels  of  the  country  gentlemen,  nearly  every  one 
of  wdiom  always  kept  a  few  couple  of  hounds.  These 
were  invariably  trencher-fed— that  is,  running  loose  and 
picking  up  food  where  best  they  might,  like  any  other 
dog ;  but  they  made  astonishingly  good  running  in  many 
instances,  and  some  of  the  best  hunts  in  England  to-day 
are  descendants  of  just  such  progenitors. 

Women  seem  to  have  taken  to  the  hunting-field  from 
the  beginning ;  in  fact,  are  mentioned  in  the  earliest  man- 
uscripts, and  as  riding  astride,  though  Queen  Elizabeth, 
who  was  very  fond  of  the  chase,  rode  sideways. 

fcjtrutt,  the  sporting  historian,  tells  of  an  effort  made 
by  the  hunting  women  of  those  days  to  have  the  "  wear- 
ing of  breeches"  generally  recognized  as  conventional 
form,  if  for  no  other  reason,  because,  in  case  of  accident, 
"decency  was  the  better  preserved";  but  critics  were  as 
bigoted  then  as  now,  and  protested  that  woman  should 
either  eruard  against  accidents  in  a  manner  more  consist- 


EXPLANATION. 

Main  Roads — — 

Railways  op&n.w^nv,'^-**^ 
Railways  J  nprogress—"''-. 


The  Leicestersrire 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS-IN   THE  "SHIRES"  41 

ent  with  the  delicacy  of  the  sex,  or  refrain  from  such 
dangerous  recreations.  Previous  to  visiting  England,  I 
was  led  to  believe  that  all  women  who  followed  hounds 
in  Devonshire  and  Somersetshire  rode  astride,  and  was 
prepared  to  see  quite  a  cavalcade  of  Amazons  in  that 
country.  I  saw  only  one,  however — an  excellent  horse- 
woman she  was,  too — but  heard  of  several  others.  In  fact, 
I  found  a  very  general  feeling  among  thinking  and  rea- 
soning people  that  riding  astride  was  far  and  away  the 
safer  and  more  h3^gienic,  and  certain  to  become  recog- 
nized as  such  at  no  distant  time. 

The  era  of  fox-hunting  as  it  is  to-day,  with  its  fast  and 
furious  riding,  elaborate  turning  out,  expensive  kennels, 
and  fashionable  atmosphere,  dawned  with  the  opening 
of  the  nineteenth  century  ;  though  that  neither  horse  nor 
hound  went  the  pace  they  do  to-day  is  not  to  be  doubted. 
Oxers  and  bull-finchers  were  probably  more  frequently 
met — the  first  of  which  was  flown,  and  the  latter  scram- 
bled through — but  they  knew  not  the  staked-and-bound 
obstacles  that  now  obtain. 

All  hunting  England  is  divided  into  two  parts — the 
"  shires,"  which  furnish  the  poetry,  and  the  "  provinces," 
which  provide  the  prose  of  riding  to  hounds.  It  is  a  rath- 
er confusing  division  to  the  uninitiated,  as  all  England 
is  divided  into  shires  (counties),  and  somewhat,  too,  into 
shire  hunting,  although  not  strictly  so,  since  frequently 
it  is  the  case  that  the  country  of  one  hunt  may  extend 
into  two,  and,  in  some  instances  of  peculiar  configura- 
tion, into  even  more  counties.  However,  all  England  is 
certainly  divided  into  shires,  which  are  again  as  surely 
apportioned  among  the  hunts. 

Leicestershire,  Eutlandshire,  and  a  part  of  Northamp- 
tonshire comprise  the  "  shires,"  so  called  ;  to  speak  of 
hunting  in  which  means  you   have   been  following  the 


42  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

hounds  of  the  Quorn,  Pytchley,  Belvoir,  Cottesmore,  or 
Mr.  Fernies.  "With  the  country  so  thoroughly  and  often- 
times intricately  subdivided,  it  causes  no  little  wonder- 
ment that  there  are  not  more  conflicts  between  hunts, 
and  yet  they  are  so  rare  as  to  create  surprise  and  unmit- 
igated censure  when  they  occur. 

I  have  said  that  the  "shires"  furnished  the  poetry  of 
English  hunting,  but  I  do  not  wish  to  imply  that  the 
prose  of  the  provinces  is  heavy  and  uninteresting,  or 
that  the  provincial  soul  is  utterly  without  the  poetry  of 
hunting. 

While  the  sportsman  who  has  the  good  luck  and  very 
necessary  length  of  purse  to  follow  the  hounds  in  High 
Leicestershire  may  shrug  his  shoulders  at  the  sport  in  the 
provinces,  he  must  not  by  any  means  persuade  you  that 
the  shires  comprise  all  that  there  is  of  good  sport  in  Eng- 
land. There  is  only  occasionally  the  pace,  never,  with 
a  few  exceptions,  the  style  of  turning  out  that  character- 
izes the  fashionable  and  highly-scented  grass  countries ; 
but,  nevertheless,  for  sport  pure  and  simple,  for  hunting 
as  distinguished  from  steeple-chasing,  there  are  many 
provincial  packs  that  will  give  you  the  rarest  sport  to 
be  had  in  all  Great  Britain. 

Americans  that  visit  England  for  hunting  are  apt  to 
confine  their  experiences  to  the  shires,  which,  being  more 
or  less  intolerant  of  the  outside  hunting  world,  are  sure 
to  give  incorrect  impressions  to  those  who  do  not  seek 
farther.  Certain  sets  of  Englishmen  who  hunt  with  the 
fashionable  packs  grow  to  the  belief  that  the  poor  devil 
of  a  fellow  who  is  not  astride  a  three-hundred-guinea 
hunter,  and  does  not  have  an  occasional  twent3Mninute 
steeple-chase  after  a  straight-going  fox,  knows  nothing 
whatever  of  the  sport  of  fox-hunting.  But  the  average 
sportsman,  and  the  average  is  high  in  England,  knows 


RIDING  TO   HOUNDS— IN  THE  "SHIRES" 


43 


better ;  his  heart  has  beat  as  fast,  Hke  enough,  watching 
the  small  gorse  coverts  shaking  under  the  researches  of 
a  dozen  or  twenty  couple  of  hounds,  and  his  pride  grown 
just  as  great  in  the  one-hundred-guinea  hunter,  whose 
strength  of  quarters  and  intelligence  have  lifted  him  out 
of  the  heavy  plough,  and  carried  him  safely  across  many 
a  hidden  drain. 

This  fact  is  always  to  be  considered  :  that  in  the  prov- 
inces there  is,  as  a  general  rule,  more  actual  hunting,  the 
foxes  are  as  plentiful  and  strong,  the  jumping  yields  as 
great  a  variety,  and  the  hounds  in  many  instances  quite 
as  good,  with  the  advantage  of  smaller  fields,  that  give 
them  more  room  to  work  and  permit  of  closer  supervis- 
ion bv  the  huntsman. 


■^■ 


[L. 


THE    QLORN    HOU.NDS 


44  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

Your  horse  need  not  be  a  high  -  priced  racer,  but  he 
must  be  a  thorough  hunter,  with  plenty  of  blood  and 
bone  and  local  training. 

Generally  speaking,  the  shires  are  less  broken  up  than 
the  provinces,  and  carry  a  higher  scent,  which  explain  the 
greater  pace,  and  the  coverts,  fewer  in  number,  permit 
those  sustained  bursts  that  have  spread  the  fame  of 
Leicestershire ;  the  hounds  are  of  the  best,  the  horses  the 
highest  type  of  the  racing  hunter,  and  expense  is  of  no 
consequence.  In  this  country  of  fashion  and  extravagant 
expenditure  you  have,  to  begin  with,  a  tremendous  field 
where  there  is  always  an  abundance  of  jealous  riding, 
which  is,  however,  not  so  much  a  condition  of  country 
as  of  human  nature,  and  obtains  everywhere  in  propor- 
tion to  the  number  brought  into  competition.  Only  the 
exceptional  few  that  may  be  in  the  first  flight  live  with 
the  hounds  in  one  of  those  twenty  -  minute  bursts  over 
the  high-scented  grass ;  not  that  the  jumps  are  so  much 
more  difficult  than  elsewhere,  but  the  pace  is  faster  and 
the  average  of  good  cross  -  countr}^  riders  is  ridiculously 
small  compared  with  the  average  of  fine  horse-flesh.  The 
stampede  for  the  gate  at  the  throw-off  delays  and  straggles 
the  field,  but  once  through,  it  thunders  on  to  the  next, 
where  it  leaves  a  score  or  more,  the  number  diminishing 
rapidly  by  the  time  half  a  dozen  fields  have  been  covered, 
until,  at  the  end  of  the  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes'  burst, 
probably,  of  the  several  hundred  that  started  out  so  gal- 
lantly, only  a  handful  will  be  up  at  the  first  check. 

It  is  a  blessed  thing  for  English  hunting  that  every 
field  does  have  a  gate  as  an  outlet  for  this  great  mass 
of  riders,  otherwise  there  would  be  little  sport  for  any- 
body, or,  if  the}'^  improved  in  cross-country  performance, 
it  would  be  an  exasperating  task  for  the  huntsmen  to 
keep  the  hounds  at  work  with  their  noses  down. 


RIDING   TO   H0UND8-IN  THE  "SHIRES' 


45 


In  the  provinces  the}'-  ride  to  hunt,  and  sport  alone 
is  the  primary  object ;  in  the  fashionable  countries  the 
great  majority  hunt  to  ride,  turning  out  chiefly  because 
it  is  the  thing  to  do,  and  sport  gives  the  vogue  a  dash  of 
exhilarating  color. 

It  is  a  fact,  as  "  Brooksby "  has  said,  and  Brooksby 
knows  whereof  he  speaks  —  which  every  one  will  admit 


QIIOUN    KKNNKL; 


who  reads  his  Hunting  Countries  of  Great  Britain,  the 
best  published  work  on  the  subject — that  in  all  of  Eng- 
land you  want  a  good  horse — one  that  has  been  schooled 
in  the  country,  has  bone  and  blood,  can  jump,  and,  in 
most  instances,  go  the  pace  ;  but  in  the  shires  you  want 
a  superlatively  good  mount.  Nowhere  else  in  the  world 
will  be  found  such  a  collection  of  superior  horse-flesh — 
such  big-boned,  blue-blooded  hunters,  that  represent  any- 
where from  one  to  five  thousand  dollars.  Two  hundred 
guineas  {i.e.,  $1000)  is  considered  in  High  Leicestershire 
rather  a  moderate  price,  and  probably  three  to  four  hun- 


46  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

dred  would  be  a  nearer  average  of  the  cost  of  the  hunt- 
ers at,  for  instance,  the  Quorn  covert-side,  wliile  several 
that  had  cost  1000  guineas  were  pointed  out  to  me,  and 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  running  my  hand  down  the  steel- 
like legs  of  one  in  Lord  Lonsdale's  stud  for  which  had 
been  paid  2000  guineas  (§10,000).  Eather  a  tidy  sum  to 
give  for  one's  hunter. 

Nowhere,  either,  are  to  be  found  such  kennels  or 
hunts  turned  out  in  so  elaborate  and  finished  a  fashion, 
with  servants,  sometimes  to  the  number  of  half  a  dozen, 
superbly  mounted,  and  all  in  pink  and  leathers. 

The  Leicestershire  hunter  must  have  sjieed,  exceptional 
jumping  qualifications,  and  endurance.  He  must  have 
been  schooled  to  the  country,  otherwise  the  best  rider 
and  the  finest-bred  horse  in  the  world  will  come  to  grief. 
He  must  be  the  superlative  animal  that  is  demanded,  not 
only  to  combat  his  way  in  the  crowd,  but  to  cover  the 
country ;  for  he  will  be  called  on  to  negotiate  a  "  bot- 
tom," fly  an  "oxer,"  and  alight  unerringly  on  the  bank 
of  a  double,  to  pop  over  the  awaiting  ditch  on  the  land- 
ing side.  He  must  be  tractable  and  intelligent,  and  in 
the  sharp  bursts  of  twenty  to  thirty  minutes  over  the 
high -scented  grass  and  furrow  and  ridge  of  the  shires 
he  must  be  a  racer,  if  his  rider  would  be  with  the 
hounds. 

"We  of  America  are  prone  to  fancy  our  hunting  coun- 
try stiffer  than  the  Englishman's,  and  point  to  the  tim- 
ber of  Long  Island  to  bear  us  witness  ;  but  there  is  so 
great  a  dissimilarity  between  the  two  that  comparison 
can  scarcely  be  made.  They  differ  totally  in  that  the 
jumping  of  one  is  all  open,  while  with  the  other  it  is 
practically  all  hidden.  It  is  not  that  the  average  jumps 
in  England  are  so  high  or  so  stout  so  much  as  it  is  in 
the  concealment  of  their  true  nature.     It  is  easv  euouoh 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS— IN   THE   "SHIRES' 


47 


to  pop  over  a  bank  with  a  hedge  on  top  of  it,  but  when 
that  bank  and  hedge  have  a  ditch  on  the  take-off  side,  and 
in  mid-air  you  get  the  first  intimation  of  a  yawning  drain 
on  the  landing  side  also,  you  begin  to  appreciate  some  of 
the  difficulties  that  make  staying  with  the  hounds  no 
boy's  play.  When  you  have  dropped  into  a  "  bottom," 
with  its  rotten  and  overhanging  bank,  and  stayed  there 
long  enough  to  see  the  last  of  a  straggling  field  go 
past  you,  you  realize  that  all  hunting  in  Leicestershire 
is  not  smooth  going  over  velvety  turf ;  and  when  you 
come,  finally,  to  the  terrific  "  oxers  "  and  the  staked-and- 
bound  hedges,  with  timber  on  both  sides,  that  are  to  be 
found  in  the  Pytchley  country,  you  conclude  there  is  just 


DOCBLK    DITCH    AND    FKNCKD    BANK 


48  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

as  Stiff  jumping  in  England  as  the  tallest  and  stoutest 
post-and-rails  of  the  Meadow  Brook  country  afford.  Com- 
paratively speaking,  it  is  a  simple  matter  to  ride  up  to 
timber  and  buck  over  it,  or,  if  the  way  is  clear,  to  take 
it  in  your  stride,  for  you  see  precisely  where  you  are 
going  to  land.  In  most  of  our  country  we  have  clear 
going  and  unobstructed  view  for  every  jump  we  make ; 
but  in  nearly  all  of  England  you  never  know  what 
awaits  you,  and  rarely  can  you  see  where  you  are  going 
to  land.  You  need  faith  and  nerve  and  a  superior  hunt- 
er for  such  going ;  but  when  you  have  all  three,  and  the 
fox  is  running  straight,  then  indeed  are  you  blind  to  all 
danger,  aglow  with  that  rapturous  excitement  for  which 
— to  quote  Whyte  Melville — many  are  content  to  live, 
and  even,  in  a  few  sad  cases,  to  die. 

There  are  undoubtedly  hunters  in  America  just  as  well 
bred  and  quite  as  clever,  that  would  perform  with  equal 
satisfaction  if  schooled  to  the  country.  Indeed,  there  is 
no  reason  why  we  should  not  have  as  good,  since  we  buy 
in  same  market — Ireland ;  but  the  average  in  Leicester- 
shire is,  of  course,  much  higher  than  in  America,  first, 
because  of  the  infinitely  larger  number  of  men  that  ride 
to  hounds,  and,  second,  because  the  country  demands  more 
of  the  horse.  Outside  of  the  "  shires,"  with  a  few  famous 
exceptions,  our  hunters  are  of  quite  as  good,  and  in  many 
cases  of  superior,  breeding. 

It  would  be  naturally  supposed  that  an  American-bred 
horse  could  hardly  be  worked  successfully  over  such  a 
country  as  Leicestershire,  and  yet  Mr.  Foxhall  Keene  has 
at  Melton-Mowbra}'-,  in  Nimrod,  one  of  a  stud  of  ten  as 
fine  hunters  as  money  can  buy,  a  product  of  American 
breeding,  that,  without  claiming  to  be  a  superlative  ani- 
mal, compares  favorably  with  the  best  cross-country  per- 
formers in  the  "  shires." 


RIDING    TO   HOUNDS— IN   THE   "SHIRES"  49 

As  for  the  riding,  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  size  of  the  fields,  one  sees  better  form  in 
America  than  in  England.  In  the  first  place,  of  the  sev- 
eral hundred  at  the  covert-side,  probably  ten  per  cent, 
make  a  pretence  at  going  straight,  and  with  this  in  daily 
evidence,  the  constant  attendance  of  so  great  a  number  of 
second  horses,  so  many  of  which  were  never  by  any  chance 
called  into  service,  afforded  me  no  end  of  quiet  amuse- 
ment. 

Those  Avho  go  straight,  however,  are  the  hardest  riding 
and  cleverest  horsemen  in  the  world,  though  even  these  do 
not  excel  the  pick  of  our  cross-country  performers,  for  in 
the  shires  I  always  observed  Mr.  Keene  with  the  very  first 
of  the  first  flight,  while  in  the  Meath  country  the  two 
Eustis  brothers — AVilliam  C.  and  George  P. — show^ed  to 
equal  advantage. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  with  all  the  difficulties  of  the  Eng- 
lish hunting  countr}^,  the  man  who,  at  the  throw-off,  picks 
out  his  own  line  and  rides  it  has  no  trouble  whatever  in 
keeping  with  the  hounds  ;  but  it  is  essential  to  know  the 
country,  and  absolutely  necessary  to  have  a  horse  schooled 
to  it. 

Melton-Mowbray,  known  as  the  "  hunting  metropolis  " 
of  England,  which  might  with  equal  truth  be  called  the 
hunting  centre  of  the  world,  is  in  Leicestershire,  one  hun- 
dred miles  from  London.  "Within  a  radius  of  about  twenty 
miles  are  the  kennels  of  the  Quorn,  Pytchley,  Belvoir, 
Cottesmore,  four  of  the  greatest  packs  in  England,  and 
these,  together  with  Mr.  Fernies',  furnish  hunting  for 
every  day  of  the  week,  Sunday  excepted,  from  beginning 
to  ending  of  the  season.  But  Melton-Mowbray  is  a  little 
world  of  itself,  and  a  very  fashionable  one  at  that,  and 
you  must  not  go  there  unless  you  have  a  long  purse  and  a 
superlative  hunter,  and,  if  you  would  be  in  the  first  flight, 

4 


50 


A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 


a  good  heart.  The  Pytchle}^  are  a  bit  far  off  to  hunt  with 
regularly,  but  the  best  meets  of  all  the  others  are  close, 
and,  as  a  usual  thing,  the  kill  is  near  at  home.  One  rarely 
has  to  hack  more  than  eight  or  ten  miles  to  the  covert-side, 

and  even  this  is  a 
])art  of  the  day's 
])leasure,  for  more 
beautiful  country 
would  be  hard  to 
lind.  It  is  a  coun- 
try, too,  which 
seems  almost  to 
exist  for  the  fox, 
both  gentry  and 
farmers  alike  hav- 
ing been  reared 
from  childhood  to 
i-are  for  and  re- 
spect the  knowing 
little  beast. 

First  of  the  sub- 
scription packs  of 
Leicestershire  — 
first,  indeed,  of  all 
subscription  packs 
of  Great  Britain — 
is  the  Quorn. 
A  meet  of  the  Quorn  hunt  is  a  sight  for  the  gods. 
AVhether  it  be  advertised  for  one  of  the  handsome  old  res- 
idences with  which  the  country  abounds,  or  for  a  park,  or 
cross-roads,  the  scene  differs  only  in  its  setting.  And  it  is 
picturesque  in  the  extreme,  with  the  hounds  as  a  central 
figure,  the  master,  huntsmen,  first  and  second  whips,  and 
second  horsemen,  all  in  pink,  forming  an  inner  circle,  sur- 


DirCII    AND    "  STAKED-ANDBOUKD  ' 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS— IN  THE    "SHIRES"  51 

rounded  by  hundreds  of  horsemen  and  women,  the  roads 
leading  from  all  directions  blocked  to  a  gorging  point  with 
traps  of  every  description,  while  on  all  sides  the  fields 
stretch  away  in  their  velvety  beauty,  cross-sectioned  by 
the  national  fence  of  thorn. 

But  it  is  at  the  covert-side,  on  a  Quorn  Friday,  say, 
where  the  heart  of  the  sportsman  thrills  as  he  notes  the 
perfect  discipline  of  the  tremendous  field,  and  delights  in 
the  largest  number  of  superbly  mounted  horsemen  he  has 
ever  seen  anywhere.  As  the  pack  gives  tongue  (and  what 
music  ravishes  the  ear  of  the  sportsman  like  the  tuneful 
cry  of  the  hounds !),  every  ear  strains  to  catch  the  sound 
of  "  Gone  away  !"  every  eye  to  see  the  gathering  of  reins, 
the  settling  of  hats,  the  evident  sympathy  between  horse 
and  rider,  each  impatient  to  be  away  with  the  first  of  that 
mad  rush  which  follows  the  signal. 

The  Quorn  pack  is  supported  by  Melton-Mow  bray, 
though  I  dare  say  the  master.  Lord  Lonsdale,  who  has 
been  showing  some  of  the  best  sport  the  hunt  has  ever 
had,  must  draw  on  his  own  very  comfortable  bank  ac- 
count at  the  end  of  the  season  to  make  ends  meet.  No 
hunt  is  turned  out  so  elaborately,  nor  are  the  servants  of 
any  so  grandly  mounted  from  its  stable  of  thirty,  though 
the  master's  fad  of  hogging  the  hunters'  manes  is  a  disfig- 
urement to  such  good  cattle.  They  have  some  of  the  best 
country  in  Leicestershire  and  some  of  the  stiffest,  though 
it  is  not  so  broken  up  as  the  Cottesmore  and  the  Belvoir, 
and  furnishes  great  stretches  of  running  that  makes  the 
pace  at  times  the  very  fastest. 

The  fifty-five  couple  of  hounds,  divided  into  a  dog  and 
bitch  pack,  and  used  alternately,  as  is  the  case  generally 
in  the  shires,  are  a  thoroughly  workmanlike  lot,  which, 
while  lacking  the  Belvoir  symmetry  in  coloring  and  high 
breeding,  are  very  fast,  and  under  huntsman  Tom  Firr, 


52  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

Avho  has  no  superior  in  England,  well  qualified  to  lead  the 
hardest-riding  hunt  of  the  hardest-riding  country  in  the 
world. 

The  Belvoir,  a  private  pack  of  the  Duke  of  Rutland's, 
is  not  only  the  oldest  in  England — its  books  dating  from 
1756 — but  certainly  the  most  beautiful  to  watch  at  the 
covert-side.  One  must  go  into  the  kennels  and  have  the 
pack  brought  up  for  his  inspection,  as  Frank  Gillard,  the 
huntsman,  was  kind  enough  to  do  for  me,  to  fully  appre- 
ciate the  big  bone  and  straight  legs  and  the  beautiful  even- 
ness in  coloring  of  these  hounds,  every  one  of  them  with 
the  Belvoir  tan  head  and  black  saddle-mark  on  ground- 
work of  purest  white. 

It  always  amazes  a  layman  that  any  huntsman  can  dis- 
tinguish his  hounds  apart ;  but  to  stand  by  the  Belvoir,  in 
which  you  cannot  for  your  life  pick  one  from  the  other, 
so  alike  are  they,  and  see  Gillard  draw  them  out  by  name 
one  after  the  other,  while  they  scan  you  quizzicall}'^ 
through  beautiful  and  intelligent  eyes,  is  an  experience 
worth  going  a  long  way  for.  Gillard  is  a  notable  kennel 
man,  and  has  shown  an  extraordinary  knowledge  of 
hounds  and  great  skill  and  judgment  in  keeping  the  qual- 
ity of  this  pack  up  to  the  standard  that  has  made  its  rep- 
utation world-wide. 

There  are  fifty-eight  and  a  half  couple,  averaging,  like 
all  in  Leicestershire,  from  twenty-two  to  twenty-four  inch- 
es in  height,  and  from  these  over  one  hundred  puppies 
are  every  year  sent  out  to  walk,  only  the  pick  of  them  be- 
ing retained.  The  present  duke  is  rather  advanced  in 
years,  and  is  never  seen  afield,  though  his  deceased  pred- 
ecessor was  a  thorough -going  sportsman,  and  quite  as 
much  interested  in  Gillard's  work  with  the  hounds  as  the 
huntsman  himself. 

The  Belvoir  district  is  a  thoroughly  good  one  from  end 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS— IN   THE  "SHIRES"  55 

to  end,  with  a  great  variety  of  coiintr}^  including  wide 
stretches  of  grazing  land,  heavy  plough — for  the  farmers 
till  their  soil  to  the  utmost  depths — and  all  kinds  of  fenc- 
ing, some  of  it  pretty  stiff,  as  enclosures  are  guarded  by 
the  strongest  of  staked-and-bound  fences,  made  doubly 
formidable  by  ditches  that  are  wide  and  deep,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  the  post  and  rails  used  to  repair  hedges  and  the 
stone  walls  to  be  found  in  some  parts. 

Saturday  is  to  the  Belvoir  what  Friday  is  to  the  Quorn, 
and  on  favored  occasions  one  may  enjoy  one  of  those 
sharp  bursts  of  twenty  to  thirty  minutes  for  which  the 
Belvoir  hounds  are  famous,  and  to  live  with  which  requires 
the  fastest  of  horse-flesh.  As  a  usual  thing  the  country  is 
amply  stocked  with  foxes,  but  the  hunt  is  not  mounted 
so  well  as  the  Quorn,  and  as  a  rule  does  not  give  such  good 
sport  as  Lord  Lonsdale's  pack.  There  are  more  checks, 
and  it  is  only  occasionally  that  the  hounds  have  an  op- 
portunity of  showing  the  great  pace  of  which  they  are 
capable. 

Many  hunting-men  consider  that  in  all  of  Leicestershire 
the  best  sport  is  to  be  had  in  the  sparsely  settled  Cottes- 
more countrj^  where  coverts  run  from  small  gorse  to  big- 
woodlands,  and  extended  pastures  that  hold  a  good  scent 
give  hard  and  fast  runs.  There  is  jumping  enough  of 
every  kind,  including  stone  w^alls,  blackthorn  hedges,  and 
wide  drains,  and  one  requires  an  enduring  as  well  as  a  fast 
horse,  for  it  is  well  broken  up  in  some  parts.  The  ken- 
nels and  stables,  in  which  are  fifty-five  couple  of  hounds 
and  thirty-eight  horses,  are  probably  the  most  costly  in 
England,  and  the  master,  Mr.  W.  Baird,  and  huntsman, 
George  Gillson,  never  fail  to  furnish  good  sport. 

Few  are  so  old  as,  and  no  subscription  pack  is  more  fa- 
mous than  the  Pytchley,  which  takes  its  name  from  the 
ancient  Elizabethan  mansion,  Pytchley  Hall,  where,  in  the 


50  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

days  of  Lord  Althorp,  the  hunt  club  used  to  meet.  It  is 
the  Quorn's  great  rival,  and  every  year  six  riders  from 
each  meet  in  a  time-honored  steeple-chase  over  four  and  a 
half  miles ;  this  year  the  Quorn,  on  whose  team,  by-the- 
way,  were  two  Americans,  Mr.  Foxhall  Keene  and  Mr. 
Elliott  Zborowski,  won  by  43  to  21  points.  It  is  the  only 
hunt  in  Leicestershire  with  a  distinctive  uniform,  its  pink 
coat  bearing  the  white  collar  which  every  one  has  learned 
to  associate  with  this  famous  old  club.  The  time-honored 
club-initialled  brass  buttons  of  the  pink  coat  content  the 
other  hunts  of  the  fashionable  shires. 

Some  of  the  stiffest  jumping  in  England  is  to  be  found 
in  the  Pytchley  country,  and  the  biggest  "  oxers  "  around 
Market- Harborough,  and  the  staked-and-bound  hedges, 
with  timber  on  both  sides,  are  altogether  too  stiff  to  be 
ridden  straight.  What  there  is  of  the  country  in  North- 
amptonshire is  largel}^  plough,  and  some  of  it  is  heavy 
enough  to  check  the  rush  of  the  typical  shire  field.  Gen- 
erally speaking,  however,  Pytchley  is  less  hilly  and  try- 
ing to  horses  than  is  High  Leicestershire,  though  they 
do  not  have  the  long  runs,  because  of  the  frequently  oc- 
curring villages  that  keep  Reynard  from  going  straight. 

There  is  a  plenty  of  foxes.  The  farmers  are  stanch  sup- 
porters of  the  master,  Earl  Spencer,  whose  beautiful  place, 
Althorp  Park,  provides  the  most  picturesque  site  of  any 
hunt  stables  and  kennels  in  England.  No  hounds  are  bet- 
ter handled  than  these  fifty -live  couple  b}^  William 
Goodall,  the  huntsman,  and,  next  to  the  Quorn,  the  ser- 
vants  are  the  best  mounted,  drawing  on  a  stud  of  thirty- 
two  hunters. 

Compared  with  these  first  packs  of  England,  the  Meath 
fox-hounds  of  Ireland  are  juvenile,  for,  although  they  have 
been  an  institution  many  years,  it  was  not  until  recent 
times   that   they  began  to   be  classed   among   the  ceie- 


Ui§. 

^    -  iiiiiiii'iiiiiiiifiiiiijijif-iiaijiji^ 


BELA'OIR    KENNELS 


John  Burton  &  ! 


brated  hunts,  though  having  always  furnished  first-rate 
sport.  Indeed,  their  present  prominence  goes  back  no 
longer  than  five  years  ago,  when,  under  the  mastership  of 
Mr.  Jack  Trotter,  they  were  plunged  first  into  fame  and 
afterwards  into  debt,  the  latter  coming  very  near  eclipsing 
the  former.  Mr.  John  "Watson,  the  present  master,  who 
hunts  his  own  fifty-five  couple  of  hounds,  succeeded  Mr. 
Trotter,  and  has  managed  to  repair  the  fortunes  of  the 
Meath,  until  it  is  now  on  very  nearly  as  sound  footing  as 
ever  it  was,  and  the  sport  of  the  past  two  seasons  has  not 
been  excelled  anywliere  in  the  kingdom.  Certainly  no 
hunt  is  more  favored  by  nature,  for  the  Meath  country  is 
a  never  -  ending  picture  of  the  most  beautiful  shades  of 
green,  emphasized  here  and  there  by  Avoodland,  Avhile  the 
climate,  tender  yet  invigorating,  makes  you  impatient  of 
in-door  confinement.  You  have  only  to  catch  a  glimpse 
of  Ireland  to  appreciate  the  appropriateness  of  its  so- 
briquet— Emerald  Isle. 

And  what  jolly  good  sportsmen  and  what  gi-and  horses 
they  breed  in  Ireland  !  The  wit  and  whole-soul  fellow- 
ship of  the  one  is  as  proverbial  as  the  magnificent  cross- 
country qualities  of  the  other. 

This  Irish  horse  long;  affo  evinced  an  excellence  in  the 
hunting -field  that  made  its  reputation  and  stamped  its 


58  A   SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

progeny.  But  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  mere 
fact  of  being  bred  in  Ireland  is  a  guarantee  of  an  excep- 
tionally or  even  thoroughly  good  mount.  The  demand  for 
hunters  of  late  years  has  naturally  greatly  increased  the 
number  of  breeders  as  well  as  dealers,  and  a  large  class  of 
an  indifferent  type  has  been  put  on  the  market.  There 
are  unquestionably  more  of  the  very  highest  type  of 
hunters  bred  in  Ireland  to-day  than  ever,  but  the  inferior 
class  has  likewise  increased,  probably  at  a  greater  ratio. 
You  must  be  a  judge  of  horse-flesh,  or  buy  through  a 
dealer  or  breeder  whose  judgment  and  honesty  can  be  re- 
lied upon,  if  you  would  secure  one  of  that  rare  sort — the 
weight  -  carrying  hunter  with  plenty  of  quality.  There 
are  quite  as  many  blanks  as  prizes.  However,  the  general 
spirit  among  the  sportsmen  of  Ireland  is  none  the  less 
towards  maintaining  the  standard  of  the  Irish  hunter, 
since,  as  one  of  them  told  me,  no  mare  is  retained  after 
she  has  outlived  her  usefulness,  for  once  the  hunting  days 
are  over  they  are  either  "  shot  and  boiled  up  as  feed  for 
the  hounds,  or  sent  over  to  Germany." 

In  England,  also,  the  efforts  of  horsemen  are  being  di- 
rected towards  the  betterment  of  the  hunter,  and  the 
show  I  saw  in  London  last  spring  attested  the  success  of 
the  movement.  The  Hunters'  Improvement  Society  has 
turned  its  attention  to  the  development  of  good  honest 
animals  that  have  bone  and  blood  and  fair  pace,  and  the 
exhibits  in  the  yearling  and  two-year-old  classes,  as  the 
result  of  the  departure,  were  good  enough  to  please  every 
sportsman  with  an  eye  for  raising  the  national  type.  Nor 
is  the  horse  the  only  one  of  the  hunting -field  receiving 
attention,  for  the  hound  shows  have  done  a  great  deal 
to  the  same  end,  so  much  so  I  wonder  the  example  has 
not  been  followed  in  America,  where  we  need  some  such 
elevating  power  at  work. 


RIDING  TO  H0UND3-IN  THE  "SHIRES"  61 

The  Meath  hunt  is  turned  out  nearly  if  not  quite  as 
elaborately  as  those  of  the  shires ;  both  whips  and  one  of 
the  second  horsemen  are  in  pink,  and,  in  fact,  pink  ap- 
peared to  be  more  generally  worn  by  the  field  than  was 
the  case  at  any  meet  I  attended  in  England,  Leicestershire 
included.  Certainly  the  riding  impressed  me  as  averag- 
ing higher,  and  more  women  rode  the  line.  Altogether, 
the  atmosphere  seemed  to  be  more  sport -laden  in  the 
Meath  country  than  any  other  outside  that  of  the  Devon 
and  Somerset  stag- hounds.  They  have  a  variety  of  jump- 
ing, from  wide  open  drains  to  stone  walls,  but  the  greatest 
share  of  obstacles  is  banks,  quite  as  often  without  thorn 
hedges  as  with  them,  and  with  a  drain  on  one  side  or  the 
other,  and  frequently  on  both.  Some  of  these  banks  are 
very  high,  guarded  by  wide,  deep  ditches,  which  are  sug- 
gestively called  "gripes,"  and  sometimes  their  banks  are 
sloping  and  boggy,  and  oftentimes  topped  by  a  black- 
thorn hedge  eight  feet  high,  and  very  stout,  as  the  face 
and  clothing  of  those  who  crash  througii  it  bear  witness. 
That  these  deep,  wide  drains  are  formidable  traps  to  the 
unwary  may  be  judged  from  the  existence  of  a  guild 
known  as  "  wreckers,"  whose  vocation  is  farming,  and 
avocation,  on  hunting  days,  dragging,  by  aid  of  tackle  and 
ropes,  and  for  a  consideration,  the  hapless  out  of  the 
drains.  Foxes  are  fairly  plentiful,  and  there  is  probabl}'- 
less  artificial  stocking  of  coverts  than  in  any  of  the  large 
hunts. 

An  English  friend  told  me,  Avhen  I  first  arrived  on 
the  other  side,  that  not  to  see  Devonshire  and  Somerset- 
shire was  not  to  have  seen  hunting  England,  and  I  heart- 
ily agreed  with  him  after  I  had  made  the  trip.  There  is 
something  about  this  part  of  England  that  wins  you  in- 
stantly, if  you  have  a  particle  of  that  sentiment  which 
Nature  in  her  untrammelled  and  romantic  beauty  arouses. 


62  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

It  is  thoroughly  unique  in  its  picturesque  wildness,  for 
though  the  downs  stretch  away  in  limitless  acreage,  and 
the  coombs  are  deep  and  winding,  yet  there  is  no  harsh- 
ness in  the  scene,  Nature  seeming  to  have  touched  all 
^vith  a  refining  hand— carpeting  the  downs  with  blooming 
heather,  and  lightening  the  darkest  coombs  with  brightest 
flowers.  When  I  add  that  this  is  the  home  of  the  noblest 
beast  of  chase,  and  of  the  most  thorough-going  sportsmen 
in  the  world,  I  think  I  have  given  sufficient  reason  for 
endorsing  my  friend's  opinion.  There  are  many  parts  of 
Great  Britain  where  they  chase  the  stag,  but  none  outside 
of  this  country  where  they  hunt  it. 

Stag -hunting  has  existed  ever  since  the  chase  became 
the  earliest  sport  of  civilized  man,  but  in  its  present  form 
not  in  England  until  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

The  Devon  and  Somerset  stag-hounds  were  one  of  the 
most  famous  as  well  as  oldest  packs  in  Great  Britain, 
with  an  unbroken  history  from  1598  down  to  1825,  when 
they  were  sold  for  some  unaccountable  reason,  and  not 
until  a  couple  of  years  later  was  the  nucleus  of  the  pres- 
ent pack  purchased. 

On  the  history  of  the  modern  pack,  Avhich  has  had  its 
bright  and  tlark  days,  it  is  not  my  purpose  to  dwell,  but 
merest  comment  on  these  hounds  would  be  singularly  in- 
complete without  reference  to  Mr.  Fenwick  Bisset,  who 
revived  and  carried  on  the  hunt  in  its  best  days,  and  to 
Lord  Ebrington  and  Mr.  Basset,  who  continued  the  good 
work,  and  especially  to  the  latter  for  improving  the 
hounds  and  maintaining  the  okl  traditions,  beloved  alike 
by  hunt  members  and  farmers.  It  was  under  the  gener- 
ous and  sportsmanlike  mastership  of  these  men,  too,  which 
has  endeared  their  memory  to  every  sportsman  in  the 
Devon  and  Somerset  country,  that  the  late  Arthur  Ileal, 
that  past-master  in  the  art  of  stag-hunting,  gave  the  royal 


RIDING   TO   HOUNDS-IN   THE    "SHIRES' 


63 


sport  which  made  him  an  ideal  to  all  subsequent  hunts- 
men. He  was  connected  with  the  hunt  for  thirty  years, 
eighteen  of  which  he  carried  the  horn,  and  under  him 
served  as  first  whip  Anthony  Huxtable,  the  present  hunts- 
man, who  is  making  a  worthy  successor  to  his  altogether 
remarkable  preceptor.  Lucky  it  is  indeed  he  received  the 
training  of  such  a  school,  for  the  present  master  lacks  the 
qualities  Avhich  were  most  conspicuously  possessed  by  his 
predecessors.  Nor  do  misfortunes  come  singly,  for  poor 
Miles,  one  of  the  best  "  harborers  "  the  hunt  ever  had,  and 


PYTCHLEY  -HOUNDS 


whom  I  helped  to  a  bite  of  luncheon  and  a  wee  bit  of 
Scotch  afterwards,  but  a  few  short  weeks  ago,  has  since 
gone  over  to  the  majority  ;  he  was  a  faithful  servant,  and 
will  be  a  severe  loss  to  the  club.  The  harborer,  next  to 
the  huntsman,  is  the  most  necessary  personage  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  hunt ;  indeed,  I  am  not  sure  that  he  is  not  the 
most  essential,  for  it  is  his  skill  and  never-flagging  perse- 
verance that  locate  the  stag  which  furnishes  the  sport  of 
the  day.      It  is  he  who  in  the  mistv  dawn  scours  the 


64  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

countr}',  and  in  the  dim,  uncertain  light  bends  low  over 
the  slot -imprinted  turf  to  read  whether  hind  or  stag  has 
passed  on  into  the  covert  be3^ond,  and  it  is  his  craft  which 
assures  him  finally,  after  a  careful  circle  of  the  wood,  that 
the  quarry  is  surely  located.  Misjudgment  on  his  part 
would  almost  invariably  mean  a  day's  sport  spoiled.  But 
Miles  closed  his  career  with  as  clean  a  record  as  ever  har- 
borer  had. 

Once  the  stag  is  marked,  the  responsibilities  of  the  har- 
borer  end,  and  those  of  the  huntsman  begin.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  meet  he  kennels  his  hounds  near  by,  and  drawing 
out  a  few  couple  of  the  most  tried  and  largest,  called  "  tuft- 
ers,"  puts  them  into  the  covert.  It  would  not  do  to  turn  in 
the  entire  pack,  lest  they  should  run  riot  over  the  several 
scents  that  are  likely  as  not  to  obtain,  for  on  the  ability 
of  the  "tufters"  to  rouse  and  separate  the  stag  from  the 
herd  largely  depends  the  success  of  the  day.  ISTor  are  skill 
of  the  tufters  in  the  covert,  and  size  and  bone  of  the  pack 
generally — some  of  them  standing  as  high  as  twenty-six 
inches,  and  all  over  twenty -four,  for  the  work  demands 
the  stoutest  of  hounds,  well  put  together,  especially  as 
to  shoulders  and  feet,  to  stand  the  wear  and  tear  of  the 
broken  country — the  sole  requisites  of  stag-hounds.  They 
must  possess  that  rare  intelligence  which  enables  them  to 
follow  a  cold  scent  when  the  stag  "  soils  "  (takes  to  water), 
or  "  runs  to  herd  "  (starts  up  another  deer  while  he  set- 
tles in  its  lair),  and  to  distinguish  between  the  scent  of 
hind  and  stag,  old  and  young.  No  hunting-field  calls  for 
such  superior  qualifications  in  huntsman  and  whipper-in 
as  stag-hunting  in  Devon  and  Somerset.  The  former  must 
live  with  his  hounds  in  a  country  interlaced  with  deep 
coombs  (ravines),  requiring  oftentimes  the  hardest  riding 
and  best  judgment ;  while  the  whip,  whose  duties  in  fox- 
hunting comprise  preventing  riot  among  hounds,  verifying 


1  uki 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS— IN  THE  "SHIRES"  67 

lialloos,  and  general  utility  work  for  the  huntsman,  in  stag- 
hunting  has  the  more  important  one  of  keeping  a  careful 
watch  that  the  right  deer  is  being  chased. 

Sluggish  indeed  must  be  the  blood  of  the  man  who  can 
sit  his  horse  indifferent  to  the  restrained  but  none  the  less 
joyous  excitement  that  sweeps  around  the  Devon  and 
Somerset  covert-side.  Sometimes  there  are  long  hours  of 
waiting  while  the  "  tufters "  patiently  w^ork  out  their 
line ;  sometimes  a  sudden  outburst  of  hound  music  makes 
the  hearts  of  men  and  horses  beat  wildh^,  only  to  suffer 
the  keener  disappointment,  as  the  "  ware  hind "  of  the 
whip  tells  the  tufters  are  on  the  wrong  line.  But  weari- 
ness of  waiting  is  forgotten  when  at  last  a  crash  of  music 
from  the  covert  tells  that  the  stag  has  been  moved,  and  a 
transport  of  ecstasy  thrills  the  field  into  restiveness  as  he 
breaks  covert,  and  "■  brow,  bay,  and  tray  "  show  him  to  be 
a  "  warrantable  "  deer. 

Instantly  the  whole  field  is  in  a  commotion,  every  one 
tingling  with  impatience  to  be  off  on  the  trail  of  the 
noble  quarry.  But  none  is  permitted  to  follow.  The 
tufters  are  stopped  until  the  remainder  of  the  pack  can 
be  brought  up  and  laid  on.  And  then  away  it  is  indeed ! 
sometimes  straightaway  to  the  sea,  over  the  downs  of 
purple  heather,  galloping  downhill  and  uphill,  for  the 
endurance  of  the  red  -  deer  passeth  all  understanding  (the 
one  on  my  day  with  these  hounds  made  a  run  of  nearly 
eighteen  miles  before  she  went  over  the  cliffs  of  the 
Bristol  Channel),  in  and  out  the  steep  and  narrow 
coombs,  that  are  apt  soon  to  get  to  the  bottom  of  your 
horse,  and  where  the  longest  way  around — for  a  mile  or 
two  on  a  comparative  level  saves  you  a  scramble  into  the 
depths  of  the  ravine  and  the  climb  out  again — is  oftentimes 
the  straightest  way  across.  There  are  no  fences  to  be 
jumped  in  this  country,  but  it  takes  a  strong  mount  and 


68  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

a  stout  heart  and  a  considerable  knowledge  of  the  deer's 
habits  and  of  the  country  to  be  up  with  the  hounds  when 
the  stag  comes  at  last  to  bay,  almost  invariably  in  water, 
for  he  knows  the  advantage  of  standing  firmly  on  his  legs, 
wdiile  the  hounds  must  swim  to  the  attack.  And  there 
with  lowered  head  and  unflinching  eye  he  meets  their  on- 
slaught, dying,  like  the  gentleman  that  he  is,  fighting  to 
the  last. 

There  is  none  of  the  elaboration  in  turning  out  the  Dev- 
on and  Somerset  stag-hounds  that  characterizes  the  shires 
and  other  fashionable  countries.  You  put  on  pink  or  not 
as  you  feel  inclined,  and  generally  you  do  not,  for  only  a 
comparatively  few  make  a  pretence  of  "  doing  the  proper 
thing."  Every  one  goes  out  for  sport,  whether  the  pursuit 
be  after  the  stag,  from  August  to  October,  or  the  hind, 
from  late  autumn  to  early  spring.  It  is  hunting  from  the 
word  "go."  Fifteen  or  even  twenty  miles  to  the  covert- 
side  is  hardly  considered,  and  your  mount  must  be  a  thor- 
oughly good  one,  with  plenty  of  endurance,  for  here  he  is 
both  hack  and  hunter,  and  second  horses  in  Devonshire 
are  not  brought  out  for  ornament. 

Compared  with  the  royal  sport  of  the  Exmoors,  stag- 
hunting  as  it  obtains  elsewhere  in  Great  Britain  is  as  in- 
sipid as  water  after  wine.  Of  all  the  hunts  that  follow 
the  carted  stag,  none  probably  furnishes  so  good  an  imi- 
tation of  the  genuine  article  as  the  Ward  Union  in  Ire- 
land, near  the  Meath  fox-hounds,  and  it  is  one  of  the 
very  few  of  its  kind  that  attract  sportsmen.  As  a  usual 
thing  it  gives  pretty  good  sport,  for  the  configuration  of 
the  country  is  such  that  the  deer  nine  times  out  of  ten 
has  a  clear  run,  and  is  never  viewed  until  it  pleases  him 
to  stop.  It  is  a  subscription  hunt,  the  consolidation  of 
former  garrison  and  civil  packs,  hunted  by  a  committee 
of  which  that  whole-souled   and  straight -going  sports- 


RIDING  TO   HOUNDS— IN  THE  "SHIRES' 


69 


man  Percy  Maynard,  Esq.,  is  executive,  with  huntsman 
Jim  Brindley,  son  and  successor  of  the  famous  (Jharles 
Brindley,  who  gave  such  good  sport  that  on  his  death  a 
monument  was  erected  to  his  memory.  There  is  a  herd 
of  about  twenty  deer  in  the  paddock,  and  the  kennels  con- 
tain thirty-five  couple  of  hounds,  all  of  whose  teeth,  by- 
the-way,  are  tiled  down  that  they  may  not  mangle  the 
deer  when  it  is  caught. 

Of  carted  stag-hunting  in  England,  Lord  de  Roths- 
child's pack  is  the  largest,  and  probably  turned  out  in  the 
best  form,  though  Essex,  Kent,  and  Surrey  all  furnish 
equal  opportunities  for  a  cross-country  ride  under  more 
or  less  fashionable  auspices.  But  I  hurry  by  these  that 
I  may  come  to  Her  Majesty's  pack,  not  that  it  is  more 
sport  -  giving,  but  because  it  has  been  in  the  public  eye 
almost  continuously  by  reason  of  being  cited,  in  the  bill 
introduced  into  Parliament  for  the  suppression  of  the  pur- 
suit of  carted  deer,  as  a  terrible  example  of  cruelty. 


KARL    SPENCER  S    STABLES 


70  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

First  of  all,  let  me  assuage  the  fears  of  compassionate 
Americans  as  to  the  cruelty  of  this  diversion ;  I  cannot 
call  it  sport.  Most  of  us,  and  I  know  I  was  of  the  num- 
ber, have  pictured  the  deer  in  the  paddocks  trembling  at 
the  approach  of  man,  shivering  with  fear  in  the  dark  van 
as  it  is  driven  to  the  meet,  bewildered  at  the  uncarting, 
and,  after  a  half-hopeful,  fully  terrorized  flight,  finally 
brought  to  a  last  desperate  stand  by  fierce  hounds  that 
seek  its  life-blood.  This  is  the  hysterical  pen -picture 
familiar  to  most  readers  of  the  press,  but  the  facts  do  not 
support  it.  The  deer,  des])ite  the  fact  that  its  antlers  are 
sawed  off,  neither  trembles  at  man's  approach  nor  permits 
the  hounds  to  worry  him ;  indeed,  they  are  frequenth^  on 
ver\^  comfortable  terms  of  intimacj'".  As  for  the  terrors  of 
uncarting  and  sight  of  the  crowd,  none  of  the  deer  I  saw 
gave  evidence  of  being  so  stricken,  and  one  at  least  walked 
about  looking  at  the  crowd  until  some  one  "  shooed  "it  off. 
A  meet  of  the  Queen's  buck-hounds  is  quite,  from  a  sport- 
ing point  of  view,  the  most  ridiculous  performance  I  have 
ever  attended,  and  though  the  fields  do  have  a  sprinkling 
of  sportsmen  who  follow  for  social  reasons  of  varying 
degrees  of  pressure,  the  great  majority  turn  out  because 
it  is  one  of  the  events  of  the  locality,  and  very  likeh'' 
because  the  master  and  the  hunt  servants  are  the  only 
ones  in  England  that  embellish  their  liverj^  with  gold- 
lace. 


Ill 

RIDING    TO    HOUNDS 
IN  THE  "provinces" 

To  comment  on  every  pack  of  fox-hounds  in  provincial- 
hunting  England  would  alone  fill  a  volume.  It  is  obvi- 
ously hopeless,  therefore,  to  touch  on  them  all  in  a  single 
chapter ;  nor  would  so  elaborate  a  treatment  be  either 
instructive  or  interesting,  since  a  certain  amount  of  repe- 
tition would  be  inevitable.  I  have  chosen  the  more  im- 
portant packs,  and  those  that  convey  a  comprehensive 
idea  of  the  many  different  hunting  countries  of  England. 

Of  all  packs  in  the  provinces  the  "'blue  hounds,"  as 
the  Duke  of  Beaufort's  in  Gloucestershire  are  called, 
stand  easily  first.  Indeed,  it  seems  a  misnomer  to  call 
this  a  provincial  hunt,  for  few,  even  in  the  shires,  have 
better  horse-flesh,  and  none  are  turned  out  more  elabo- 
rately. Badminton,  as  the  hunt  is  known,  dates  1728  (the 
present  duke  assuming  the  mastership  in  1853),  and  is 
maintained  in  royal  style  in  a  country  Avhere  a  run  of 
thirty  miles  may  be  had,  and  which  is  thoroughly  hunted 
and  preserved  from  early  autumn  to  late  spring. 

And  a  charming  country  it  is,  with  fences  that  are  all 
negotiable,  notwithstanding  some  of  them  are  stone  walls, 
and  a  sport -giving  huntsman  is  the  Marquis  of  Worcester, 
who  is  always  with  his  hounds  when  required,  although, 
curiously  enough,  he  does  not  jump  a  fence.  All  the  ex- 
penses of  the  hunt  are  assumed  by  the  duke,  whose  popu- 


72  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

larity  is  attested  by  his  tenants  walking  the  fifty  to  sixty 
couple  of  puppies  sent  out  annually,  and  the  club  uniform 
— blue  coat  with  buff  facing — may  be  worn  only  on  his 
personal  invitation. 

A  strong  and  clever  horse  is  wanted  here,  for,  while  he 
need  not  fly  fences  in  his  stride,  he  must  be  jumping  con- 
stantly. 

The  Cotswold  differs  from  the  duke's  country  in  having 
severe  hills  that  test  both  horse  and  hound  to  the  utmost, 
though  paltry  hedges  and  loosely-made  stone  walls  consti- 
tute the  fencing.  The  country  carries  a  good  scent,  and, 
with  the  hounds  taking  the  walls  in  their  stride,  it  requires 
an  exceptional  horse  to  live  with  them.  The  coverts  are 
small ;  foxes  are  plentiful  and  strong  and  ready  to  go,  and 
invariably  set  a  line  for  the  hills. 

Yorkshire,  it  seems  to  me,  should  come  next  in  our  con- 
sideration, for,  though  pretty  thoroughly  claimed  by  far- 
mer and  artisan,  the  sporting  inhabitants  of  this,  Eng- 
land's largest  county,  do  not  propose  that  it  sliall  be  given 
over  to  cultivation  entirely,  and  hunting  is  carried  on 
in  first-class  style.  The  plough  makes  the  scent  cold, 
to  be  sure,  but  that  does  not  deter  your  true  Yorkshire- 
man,  who  goes  afield  with  the  greater  zest,  because  the 
true  working  qualities  of  his  hounds,  that  come  from  the 
best  blood  of  England,  are  more  strongly  brought  out. 
The  Yorkshire  farmer,  keen  and  well  posted,  is  as  true  a 
sportsman  as  the  best,  and  breeds  a  horse  that  is  sought 
wherever  he  is  sent  to  market.  Indeed,  high-class  horses 
and  hounds  are  a  product  of  the  count}',  though,  in  com- 
mon with  the  farmers  of  all  England,  times  have  been 
very  bad  the  last  few  years,  and  the  type  of  to-day  is 
inferior  to  that  of  a  couple  of  years  ago. 

The  Holderness  pack,  dating  1764,  has  the  largest  coun- 
try of  any  hunt  in  England,  and  differs  from  most  plough 


AN    OLD-TIME    PYTCHLEY    "OXER' 


in  not  being  cold-scented.  The  enclosures  are  large,  and 
the  chief  obstacles  wide,  open  drains,  a  few  of  them  that 
may  be  negotiated  only  by  wading.  In  fact,  the  ditches 
all  over  Yorkshire  are  wide  and  deep,  but  they  are  kept 
clean,  and  are  safe  jumping  because  of  their  firm  banks. 

Badsworth,  once  the  pick  of  Yorkshire,  is  an  old  coun- 
try with  an  enviable  sporting  history,  but  coal  and  iron 
interests  have  encroached  upon  it  to  such  an  extent  in  the 
last  five  years  that  it  hunts  now  under  greatest  difiiculty. 
Despite  these  disadvantages,  however,  it  keeps  up  a  liigh- 
class  establishment,  with  large  kennels,  and  a  stable  of 
over  one  hundred  horses. 

Bramhara  Moor  is  another  old  pack,  dating  back  one 
hundred  years,  and  one  of  the  best  blooded  in  England. 
It  is  not  a  good  scenting  countr}^,  and  its  great  number 
of  coverts  make  the  work  of  the  hounds  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult and  the  runs  slow.    While  there  are  the  usual  York- 


74  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

shire  characteristics — low  fences  and  ordinary  ditches, 
with  here  and  there  a  stone  wall — in  some  quarters  the 
fences  are  stiff,  and  conceal  a  wide  drain  which  you  "  wot 
not  of"  until  in  mid-air.  You  want  a  good  horse  here, 
as,  indeed,  you  do  in  all  parts  of  Yorkshire,  where  hunting 
is  not  for  the  gallery,  and  the  fields  are  out  for  business. 

One  of  the  most  noted  packs  of  this  shire,  and  original- 
ly a  part  of  the  famous  Kaby  country,  is  the  Hurworth, 
which  to  this  day,  with  the  Zetlands  and  the  Bedale, 
wear  the  black  collar  of  the  Eaby  hunt.  And  yet  an- 
other that  deserves  a  passing  glance  is  the  Sinnington,  if 
for  no  other  reason  than  because  it  dates  1608,  and  is  the 
best  trencher-fed  pack  in  England,  maintaining  a  remark- 
able consistency  of  form  for  hounds  that  are  walked  at 
out  -  quarters. 

Lincolnshire,  though  not  fashionable,  is  a  thoroughly 
sporting  country,  which  will  always  live  in  the  memory 
of  those  that  ride  to  hounds  as  the  home  of  Assheton 
Smith  and  the  Squire.  It  has  been  called,  too,  the  home  of 
the  fox -hound,  and  it  has  four  famous  and  liberally  man- 
aged packs — Brocklesby,  Burton,  Blankney,  and  Fitzwill- 
iam.  The  first  and  last  (known  as  the  Milton  blood)  have, 
Hke  the  Belvoir,  furnished  the  blood  for  many  another  in 
England.  Foxes  are  strong  and  plentiful,  the  country  is 
well  preserved,  and  though  the  fences,  as  a  rule,  are  fairly 
easy,  when  stiff  they  are  honest,  and  demand  a  good  horse 
without  calling  for  the  extravagance  of  the  shires.  In 
the  Fitzwilliam  country,  where  the  hounds  have  been  one 
hundred  and  ten  years  in  the  family  from  whom  it  takes 
its  name,  the  distances  are  long,  coverts  strong  and  widely 
separated,  and  hounds  go  sometimes  thirt}'-  miles  from 
the  kennels,  for,  once  disturbed,  foxes  travel  a  distance. 

The  Warwickshire  goes  back  a  century,  and  has  some 
good  grass  land  that  is  little  inferior  to  Leicestershire, 


RIDING  TO   HOUNDS— IN   THE   "PROVINCES"  75 

though  in  the  north  it  is  devoted  largely  to  wheat.  The 
banks,  with  ditch  on  one  side  onlv,  do  not  often  have  a 
hedge,  and  although  a  good  hunter  is  required,  the  country 
is  negotiable  all  over. 

The  Meynell,  formerly  owned  by  he  who  is  called  the  fa- 
ther of  the  modern  chase,  and  willed  to  the  country  on  his 
death,  has  kennel  books  dating  back  to  1818,  and  occupies 
the  greater  part  of  Derbyshire  worth  hunting.  Derby- 
shire, largely  devoted  to  dairy  farming,  is  cut  up  into 
miles  upon  miles  of  small  fields,  with  trimmed  hedges, 


COTTESMORE    STABLES 


neither  staked  nor  bound,  and  seldom  accompanied  by  a 
formidable  ditch.  Small  enclosures,  however,  make  a  deal 
of  jumping,  but  the  hounds,  unable  to  get  away  from  the 
field,  are  stopped  more  often  than  the  horses,  and  sport 
correspondingly  suffers.  It  is  a  country  little  visited  by 
outsiders,  and  the  fields  are  not  crowded,  which  is  fortu- 
nate, since  if  they  were  their  character  would  permit  no 
sport  at  all.  The  coverts  are  artificial  and  small,  but  well 
preserved. 


76  A  SPORTING  PILGRLMAGE 

Of  the  packs  in  North  Ilamptonsliire  probably  the  Hey- 
throp,  South  Oxfordshire,  and  Old  Berkshire  are  the  most 
notable.  One  can  always  count  on  a  good  run  with  these 
hounds  ;  in  wet  weather  across  wolds  and  stone  walls,  and 
in  dry  weather  through  grassy  vales  that  diverge  in  many 
directions.  The  stone  walls  are  not  formidable,  can  be 
flown  by  hounds,  which  not  infrequently  run  away  from 
the  field,  and  there  are  no  ditches  to  watch  out  for.  The 
vales  are  narrow  and  sound — though  heavy  in  wet  weather 
— and  the  fences  are  the  staked -and -bound  variety,  but 
of  not  too  stiff  a  character.  There  are  abundant  foxes 
throughout,  and,  the  fields  not  being  large,  hounds  have  a 
better  chance  and  riders  good  sport.  As  a  usual  thing  the 
fences  may  be  taken  on  the  fly,  though  there  are  a  few 
banks  with  the  thorn  hedge  and  ditch  on  both  sides  that 
require  two  jumps,  and  some  where  the  width  of  a  double 
ditch  and  the  strength  of  fence  set  the  rider  hunting  for  a 
weak  spot.  This  is  the  country,  too,  of  legendary  lore,  for 
here  is  pointed  out  "Wayland  Smith's  cave,  where  lived  the 
traditional  invisible  smithy,  who  would  shoe  your  horse 
for  sixpence  on  condition  you  put  down  the  money  and 
went  away  until  the  job  was  completed.  The  farmers 
take  an  active  interest  in  the  hunting,  and  small  coverts, 
good  foxes,  and  limited  fields  all  combine  to  make  good 
sport. 

Nottinghamshire,  with  plenty  of  foxes,  lies  north  of  the 
fashionable  shires,  and  is  rather  famous  in  having  been 
the  nursery  of  many  names  notable  in  the  hunting-field. 
It  is  the  dividing  line  between  the  large  area  of  plough 
and  grass,  and,  though  little  visited,  none  of  its  packs 
languish,  being  strongly  supported  by  the  residents  of  the 
county  and  by  the  city  of  Nottingham,  which  is  of  itself 
a  thriving  centre. 

In  fact,  fox-hunting  is  extremely  popular  in  this  shire. 


RIDING   TO   HOUNDS— IN  THE   "PROVINCES"  77 

and  turns  out  the  largest  fields  of  any  provincial  hunt. 
Working-men  flock  to  the  covert -side  in  embarrassing 
numbers,  and,  should  the  chase  go  in  their  immediate  vi- 
cinity, the  sound  of  the  horn  tempts  them  from  the  loam 
and  mould  which  form  so  prominent  a  feature  in  the 
county's  prosperity. 

The  hounds  are  good,  but  the  ground  does  not  hold  so 
strong  a  scent  as  grass,  and  there  is  at  once,  therefore,  a 
general  falling  off  in  pace;  but  hounds  always  carry  a  line, 
even  though  it  be  a  slow  one,  and  throwing  up  in  the  mid- 
dle of  a  field,  commonly  seen  in  the  shires,  never  occurs 
in  this  or  other  of  the  great  plough  districts.  The  high- 
class  horse  of  the  shires  is  not  necessary,  but  one  needs  a 
thoroughly  good  and  stout  hunter,  for  the  hills  are  stiff 
and  the  woods  dense. 


Jolin  liurtuu  &  Sons 


COTTKSMORE    HOUNDS 


78  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

That  hunting  should  be  attempted  in  Kent,  the  "  Garden 
of  England,"  is  yet  another  instance  of  the  strong  sport- 
ing spirit  of  the  Enghshman,  for  drowsy  Kent  is  not  a 
good  scenting  country,  with  its  cold,  ploughed  upland 
and  large  woodland,  so  dense  a  hound  can  scarcely  crawl 
through,  while  one  must  frequently  ride  half  a  mile  to  ad- 
vance a  quarter  of  that  distance.  Such  land  as  is  not 
claimed  by  the  heavy  w^oodlands  is  completely  taken  up 
by  hop  and  fruit  gardens  or  by  corn,  where  flints  are 
plentifully  scattered  through  the  light  plough.  In  such  a 
country  it  may  be  supposed  that  only  a  strong,  sensible 
horse  and  a  hound  that  knows  its  business  thoroughly 
are  at  all  serviceable. 

Hampshire  is  a  country  that,  formerly  all  naked,  hilly 
land,  has  been  gradually  reclaimed  by  cultivation,  and 
w^here  the  chalky  soil,  which  comes  to  the  surface  here 
and  there,  makes  brilliant  bursts  unknown,  and  watch- 
ing the  hounds  with  their  noses  down  the  chief  occupa- 
tion of  the  day.  It  may  not  be  exciting,  but  none  deny 
it  a  good  school  for  the  hound  and  rider;  though  I  ac- 
knowledge, before  being  challenged,  that  the  average 
man  goes  out  for  sport,  and  not  to  be  schooled. 

Nevertheless,  Hampshire  is  a  thoroughly  sporting  coun- 
try, with  good  packs  and  excellent  hunting,  and  fields 
that,  although  small,  are  invariably  composed  of  sports- 
men who  learn  their  business,  if  they  never  knew  it  before. 

South  Berkshire  is  probably  the  crack  pack  of  this 
county,  with  handsome  kennels  and  sixty  couple  of 
liounds  and  Avell-raounted  servants,  all  turned  out  in  good 
style.  There  is  some  pretty  wild  country  in  this  shire, 
Avith  a  lot  of  heather,  which,  with  its  many  devious  paths 
that  tempt  the  fox,  are  very  trying  to  the  hounds,  and 
hunting  in  every  meaning  of  the  term  is  necessary,  for 
the  line  must  be  picked  out  and  the  scent  sought. 


COTTESMORE   KENNELS 


Generally  speaking,  there  are  no  long  bursts,  and  the 
frequency  of  the  woods,  and  the  density  of  coverts,  tempt 
the  fox  to  hang  to  them  as  long  as  possible,  or,  if  driven 
out,  to  make  for  another. 

The  Tedworth  kennels  will  always  be  celebrated  in 
hunting  annals,  since  they  were  originally  built  by  Asshe- 
ton  Smith,  who  earned  the  reputation,  and  lived  up  to  it, 
of  being  the  hardest  riding  man  in  England. 

Here,  when  he  had  outlived  the  pace  of  the  "  shires," 
he  came  in  his  sporting  old  age  to  follow  the  hounds  over 
an  easier,  but  equally  sport-giving  country,  and  here  at 
sixty  he  rode  and  built  up  this  pack,  making  two  fa- 
mous runs  in  a  single  day  when  he  had  turned  eighty. 

These  hounds,  presented  by  Mr.  Smith's  widow  to  the 
country  in  1858,  were  far-famed  for  their  height,  which, 
according  to  trustworthy  authorities,  averaged  twenty- 
six  inches !  veritable  stag-hounds.  The  present  pack  does 
not  show  such  proportions. 

The  downs  of  this  country  furnish  the  few  opportu- 
nities in  the  shire  for  a  good  burst,  and  here  is  the  place 
for  those  Avho  hunt  to  ride,  for  there  are  no  fences,  and 
the  small  and  widely  separated  coverts  permit  the  fox  to 
neither  dwell  in  peace  nor,  when  fatigued,  rest  in  safety. 


80 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


One's  mind  turns  rather  to  stag  than  fox  hunting  at 
the  mention  of  Devonshire  and  Somersetshire,  and  yet 
there  is  some  excellent  sport  furnished  by  several  packs. 

In  this  country,  where,  as  a  rule,  fences  are  wanting 
or  unnegotiable,  there  is  no  danger  of  hounds  being  rid- 
den over,  and  their  work  is  most  interesting  and  instructive. 
The  frequent  lanes,  with  their  hard,  scentless  roads, 
are  a  great  hinderance  to  their  work ;  but  one  learns  here, 
where  neither  is  hampered,  the  habits  and  endurance  of 
the  wild  fox  and  the  intelligence  of  the  hounds.  To 
watch  the  latter  puzzle  out  a  line  that  at  first  baffled  is  a 
treat  not  soon  to  be  forgotten,  and  nowhere,  really,  can 
one  have  more  genuine  fox-hunting  than   in  this  most 

sporting  section  of 
England,  where  the 
scent  is  strong  and 
foxes  are  plentiful. 

You  can  get  a 
good  run  almost 
an}' where  in  Essex, 
notwithstanding 
there  is  altogether 
too  much  plough, 
though  of  a  very 
good  sort  that  holds 
a  fair  scent  and  is 
not  too  heavy  for 
the  horse. 

The    fences    are 
easy — the  ordinary 
bank    and    ditch, 
though   sometimes  the  latter  are  pretty  wide — the  cov- 
erts small,  and  the  hedges  low.     It  is  not  a  very  popular 
country,  resident  gentry  are  few,  and  the  chief  support 


LORD    RIBBESDALE,  MASTER    OF   THE    QfEEX  S 
BLCK-11UL\ND£) 


RIDING   TO   HOUNDS-IN  THE  "PROVINCES' 


81 


comes  from  the  farmers,  who  do  their  duty  freely  and 
thoronghl\\ 

Herefordshire  is  not  a  country  that  one  would  choose 
for  the  most  enjoyable  hunting,  as  it  is  thoroughly  and 
miscellaneously  cultivated — all   sorts  of   gardens,  corn- 


THE    CmCKKTEKS     INN,  A    KAVOKITE    MEET    OE    THE    QUEEN  S    STAG-HOUNDS, 
AND    THE    VEHICLE    IN    WHICB    CARTED    DEER    ARE    HAULED 


fields,  etc.,  filling  the  landscape  in  endless  profusion — and 
the  going  is  heavy,  and  the  scent  is  not  very  strong.  The 
jumping  is  chiefly  over  thorn  hedges  not  very  high,  but 
exceedingly  ragged;  and  sometimes  a  blind  ditch  makes 
it  hazardous,  while  the  "  dingle,"  which  corresponds  to  the 
Leicestershire  "  bottom,"  cannot  often  be  negotiated,  ex- 
cept where  the  ground  is  sound  and  the  banks  not  too  steep 
and  clinging.  Notwithstanding,  the  hunt  is  maintained 
in  first-class  style,  its  pack  dates  back  sixty  years,  and 
the  kennels  are  very  handsome. 


82  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

One  of  the  most  jwpular  and  favored  conntries,  and 
one  of  the  oldest  and  best  packs  in  all  of  England,  is 
the  Waddon  Chase  near  London,  site  of  the  Vale  of 
Aylesbnry,  which,  with  its  turf  that  is  "sounder, 
fairer,  and  sweeter ''  than  all  others  of  England  —  Bel- 
voir,  Blackmore,  Berkshire,  or  AVhite  Horse  included — 
makes  ])Ossible  brilliant  performances  of  a  blood-stirring 
quality. 

The  fencing  of  the  vale  is  stiff,  but  none  too  stiff  for  a 
good  man  and  a  good  horse ;  and  there  are  double  ditches 
with  hedged  banks,  and  the  best  brook-jumping  in  Eng- 
land. The  fields  do  not  reach  the  swollen  proportions 
of  Leicestershire,  and  while  you  need  not  have  a  steeple- 
chaser you  want  a  hunter  that  will  jump  and  sta3%  and  he 
cannot  have  too  much  quality. 

Cheshire  is  a  sporting  and  a  pleasant  riding  country  to 
be  sure,  for  you  are  always  on  grass — there  are  no  timber 
and  no  staked  and  laid  fences;  enclosures  are  small, 
fenced  with  thorn  that  are  easily  flown ;  fields  not  too 
large;  and  the  hounds  always  going  well.  There  is  no 
point  riding  in  Cheshire ;  the  fox  goes  where  he  will  un- 
viewed  until  he  yields  his  brush,  and  you  are  probably  in 
the  air  more  than  anywhere  else,  except  in  the  stone 
country  of  Gloucestershire. 

Sussex  is  a  beautiful  country,  but  not  a  good  fox-hunt- 
ing one,  for  it  is  thickly  wooded,  hilly,  extensively  culti- 
vated, and  the  deep  soil  makes  very  heavy  going.  You 
are  constantly  jumping;  posts  and  rails  are  numerous, 
and  a  steady  man  and  horse  is  necessary,  for  here,  if  any- 
where, one  must  look  before  one  leaps. 

Worcestershire  is  a  country  given  over  largely  to  agri- 
culture, and  filled  with  small  fields  that  require  a  great 
deal  of  jumjiing,  for  no  sooner  are  you  out  of  one  than 
3'ou  are  into  another;  but  the  fences  are  not  stiff,  which 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS— IN  THE   "PROVINCES"  85 

is  a  blessing  when  the  hounds  are  running  fast  and  the 
thorn  hedges  not  bound. 

There  is  a  frequency  and  strength  of  the  post-and-rails 
that  fill  the  gaps  of  the  hedges,  and  a  deepness  of  plough, 
together  with  the  ditch  and  occasional  stone  wall  awaiting 
3^ou  as  a  surprise,  which  make  this  country,  with  its  fair- 
sized  coverts  and  strong  foxes,  by  no  means  an  easy  one. 

JVforfolk  is  chiefly  a  shooting  county,  scantily  populated, 
with  double  ditches  and  big  banks,  and  small  ditches  and 
thorn  fences. 

Surrey  is  blessed  with  good  packs,  but  damned  by  bad 
country.  It  does  not  advertise  its  meets,  and  its  fields  are 
small.  Plough  enclosures,  separated  by  straggling  fences 
that  are  frequently  built  on  banks,  constitute  the  going, 
though  there  is  stiff  clay  in  some  parts,  and  hedged  banks 
with  a  ditch  on  one  and  sometimes  on  both  sides.  The  old 
Surrey  pack  is  said  to  date  back  to  1750,  but  the  building 
up  of  the  London  suburbs  has  so  narrowed  its  limits  in 
the  last  few  years  that  the  quality  of  sport  has  fallen 
below  the  standard  of  by-gone  days. 

Burstow  is  one  of  the  best-supported  hunts  near  Lon- 
don, whose  popularity  on  Saturdays  gives  rather  large 
fields.  The  enclosures  are  small,  and  the  fences  almost 
entirely  bank  and  ditch  with  the  thorn  hedge,  and  some- 
times a  blind  drain  awaiting  the  unknowing. 

Dorsetshire  is  a  sporting  country  consisting  mostly  of 
chalky  downs,  and  vales  that  are  devoted  to  dairy  farm- 
ing. The  jumps  are  all  hedged  bank  and  ditch,  some- 
times with  a  drop,  and  the  enclosures  in  the  vales  are 
small  and  call  for  constant  jumping.  Blackmore  Yale, 
the  pick  of  this  shire  and  the  boast  of  the  western  coun- 
ties, is  a  succession  of  vales,  where  the  fences  are  rather 
stifiish,  with  closely  grown  hedge  on  banks  that  are  five 
to  six  feet  his'h. 


86 


A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 


Shropshire  is  not  a  very  tempting  nor  a  popular  coun- 
try, but  nevertheless  it  furnishes  much  good  hunting, 
despite  the  predominance  of  plough  and  the  ditches  that 
are  unkempt,  trappy,  and  deep. 

South  Durham,  in.  this  shire,  instances  how  much  in 
England  is  made  out  of  a  little,  for  though  it  is  only 
thirteen  miles  square,  of  well -ploughed  land,  it  is  well 
provided  with  foxes  and  furnishes  a  good  bit  of  sport. 
North  Durham,  at  the  very  doors  of  the  collieries,  has 
plenty  of  foxes,  and  stone  walls  often  too  big  to  jump. 


A    KILL    WITH    THE    DEVON    AND    SOMERSET    STAG-HOINDS 


I  1.  im  a  painting  by  Basil  Nightingali 

DUKE    0¥    Rutland's   gambler 
A  Belvoir  Champion  Foxhound 


Staffordshire  has  more  ragged  hedges  and  uncleaned 
ditches  than  probably  any  other  country  in  England. 
Some  parts  are  like  Cheshire,  with  its  dairy  farms  and 
small  enclosures  and  fair  hedge-and-ditch  fences ;  but  its 
sport  is  gradually  being  curtailed  by  the  industries  of 
coal  and  iron,  and  the  great  mass  of  coverts  it  formerly 
had  have  disappeared,  leaving  but  a  copse  here  and  there. 
It  is  not  very  much  of  a  scenting  country  in  the  southern 
part,  though  North  Staffordshire  carries  a  scent  almost 
everywhere. 

Monmouthshire  is  hilly  though  ridable,  with  some  grass 
and  small  fences.  That  it  is  a  sporting  country  may  be 
judged  when  it  is  commonly  said  one  may  "shoot  a 
grouse,  a  partridge,  or  woodcock,  kill  a  salmon,  and  be  at 


88  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

the  death  of  a  fox  all  in  one  cla_y."  There  are  some  tre- 
mendous hills,  which  call  for  the  best  staying  qualities 
of  horse  and  hound. 

The  Duke  of  Grafton's  hounds,  turned  out  in  good 
shape  and  liberally  managed,  have  some  of  the  best  parts 
of  the  Bicester,  Warwickshire,  and  Pytchley  countries, 
with  every  kind  of  going  from  light  plough  to  strong 
grass,  and  small  artificial  coverts  to  heavy  woods.  Fences 
are  merely  hedge  and  ditch,  but  may  be  found  in  every 
variety  from  very  easy  to  the  wellnigh  unnegotiable. 


AN    ENGLISH    BEAGLK 


Oakley  is  one  of  the  most  favorably  known  of  all  the 
hunts,  and  has  been  in  existence  sixty  years,  its  pack  com- 
ing from  the  blood  of  the  Belvoir,  from  which  it  takes  its 
consistent  symmetry.  It  is  what  might  be  called  a  sweet 
country,  with  its  gentle  rolling  surface  of  tillage,  divided 
by  easy  thorn  fences  and  ditches  that  are  sometimes  in 
doubles. 

Eeviewing  now  the  scenes  of  my  pilgrimage,  it  seems, 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS— IN  THE   "PROVINCES"  89 

indeed,  as  though  all  England  had  been  laid  out  by  the 
Creator  for  the  hunthig  which  is  given  its  people  to  en- 
joy under  the  greatest  possible  advantages.  The  English- 
man loves  country  life,  enjoys  his  horses  and  his  hounds, 
revels  in  the  fresh  air,  and  regards  the  beautiful  land- 
scape of  green  fields  and  trimly  cut  hedges  with  a  par- 
donable pride  in  his  bucolic  skill.  There  is  no  home,  be 
it  ever  so  humble,  whose  owner  does  not  strive  to  add  his 
bit  of  coloring  to  this  bower  of  tender  rural  beauty,  with 
its  soft,  invigorating  atmosphere  and  its  flower-bestrewn 
highways. 


THE    CHRIST    CHURCH    (OXFORD)    BEAGLES 


IV 
UNIVERSITY   SPORTSMANSHIP 

There  is  a  time-honored  saw  that  tells  us  "  Englishmen 
take  their  pleasures  sadly  ";  but  my  studies  at  the  English 
universities  have  inclined  me  to  the  opinion  that,  as  touch- 
ing comparative  university  athletics,  we  Americans  take 
our  sport  and  ourselves  too  seriously.  One  does  not  find 
at  Oxford  nor  Cambridge  that  all-absorbing  interest 
which  makes  the  outcome  of  the  football  match  upper- 
most in  every  athletically  inclined  American  undergradu- 
ate's thoughts.  Though  you  will  see  the  English  student 
body  at  the  game,  rarely  is  it  represented  at  practice, 
except  in  straggling  numbers  of  enthusiasts.  If  you  talk 
with  the  average  man  at  Oxford  or  Cambridge  on  the 
team-work  and  its  prospects,  lie  will  evince  interest,  to  be 
sure,  but  it  is  lukewarm  compared  with  the  spirit  with 
which  a  Harvard,  Yale,  or  Princeton  undergraduate  will 
discuss  his  eleven,  and  grow  eloquent  over  the  brilliant 
rushes  of  the  half-back,  or  sorrowfully  deprecate  the  slow- 
ness with  which  an  end  rusher  gets  down  the  field  under 
a  kick.  The  English  university  man  will  deal  with  gen- 
eralities, and  "  fancies  they  are  doing  well  enough  "  ;  he 
seldom  criticises.  Whereas  the  American  is  not  satisfied 
"with  "  well  enough,"  is  more  particular  in  comment,  and 
certainly  more  searching  in  his  inquir}^ 

Tradition  and  years  of  experience,  and,  too,  possibly,  the 
less  nervous,  active  disposition  of  the  native  Englishman, 
have  persuaded  him  that,  after  all,  the  winning  or  losing 


UNIVERSITY  SPORTSMANSHIP  91 

of  a  football  match  will  neither  lengthen  nor  shorten  his 
earthly  career.  He  is  human  enough  to  wish  to  win,  to 
use  his  best  endeavors  to  that  end,  and  to  rejoice  in  his 
victory,  but  he  is  not  going  to  lose  any  sleep  over  it.  Too 
much  store  is  not  set  on  the  mere  winning,  the  cardinal 
principle  being  to  do  something  athletic,  and  to  do  it  to 
the  best  of  your  ability.  And  it  does  seem  the  more  sen- 
sible way,  and  the  best  way  of  doing  the  greatest  good  to 
the  largest  number. 

If  you  happen  at  the  games  of  any  one  college  of  Ox- 
ford or  Cambridge,  you  are  immediately  impressed  by  the 
manifest  indifference  of  the  contestants  as  to  whose  name 
goes  up  as  winner  on  the  announcing  black-board,  or  what 
time  is  recorded  against  it.  The  idea  appears  to  be — and, 
indeed,  it  is  the  proper  one — an  afternoon's  sport  first,  and 
winning  and  records  afterwards.  The  sports  are  carried  on 
and  tea  served  in  the  reading-room  of  the  club  simultaneous- 
ly, and  apparently  one  gives  as  much  pleasure  as  the  other. 

I  do  not  by  any  means  wish  to  convey  the  impression 
that  the  English  university  athlete  goes  into  his  race,  or 
his  football  game,  or  his  boat,  indifferent  as  to  whether  he 
wins  or  not.  Quite  the  contrary  ;  he  is  keen  enough,  and 
runs  himself  to  a  standstill  against  his  opponent,  or  pulls 
his  oar  through  until  he  drops  (he  would  not  be  Anglo- 
Saxon  if  he  did  not);  but  in  his  inter  -  college  games  the 
mere  winning  does  not  become  so  much  to  him  as  the 
sport  of  it  all  and  the  general  development  it  portends, 
while  for  the  inter-university  contests  the  serious  side  re- 
mains in  the  background  until  he  is  on  the  sci'atch  with 
his  rival. 

And  all  this,  too,  where  the  percentage  of  those  not 
actively  engaged  in  some  branch  of  sport  is  infinitely 
small,  and  where  almost  every  man  you  meet  is  on  his 
college  torpid,  eight,  eleven,  or  fifteen. 


92  A   SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

On  coming  in  touch  with  this  spirit  for  the  first  time  it 
impresses  the  American  university  man  strangely,  though 
none  the  less  pleasantly.  In  defence  of  his  own  college 
at  home,  he  immediately  consoles  himself  with  the  mental 
reservation  that  the  Englishmen  do  not  attain  so  high  a 
form  in  their  athletics  as  do  we — and  it  is  true.  But  what 
if  they  do  not  (  They  certainly  attain  a  good  standard  of 
skill,  and  by  a  system  and  spirit  that  give  the  most  benefit 
to  the  greatest  number.  After  all,  that  is  the  real  value 
of  athletics  in  our  universities ;  and  when  one  has  been  an 
eye-witness  of  their  football  matches,  their  rowing  races, 
and  their  athletic  sports  generally,  one  realizes  that  the 
Oxford  and  Cambridge  spirit  is  the  more  healthful  and 
the  more  wearing. 

English  university  athletes  do  not  give  the  same  careful 
attention  to  preparation  for  contests  that  we  do ;  special 
trainers  are  not  employed,  the  men  themselves  acting  in 
that  capacity ;  and  while  they  may  not  reach  the  degree 
of  perfection  attained  by  our  university  teams,  at  the  same 
time  they  do  get  "  fit "  enough  to  have  made  a  table  of 
rowing  times  which  we  have  not  yet  equalled,  to  have  re- 
cently defeated  a  picked  team  of  Yale  athletes  in  track 
and  field  sports,  and  to  have  compiled  athletic  records 
that  compare  favorably  with  the  best  performances  of 
our  superlatively  trained  athletes. 

And  the  outcome  of  a  contest  is  not  taken  so  seriously. 
The  sight,  familiar  to  us,  of  members  of  a  defeated  foot- 
ball eleven  throwing  themselves  prostrate  on  the  ground 
in  the  agony  of  bitter  disappointment  would  indeed  make 
Englishmen  stare  in  wonderment. 

Now  I  would  not  feel  myself  an  American — and  first 
and  last  I  am  always  that — if  I  did  not  confess  my  love 
of  that  enthusiasm,  that  whole-heartedness,  which  charac- 
terizes our  athletes,  and  makes  them  feel  that  for  the  time 


UxMVERSITY  SPORTSMANSHIP  95 

being  there  is  nothing  in  the  wide  world  so  important  as 
an  honest  triumph  over  their  rivals.  My  heart  invariably 
goes  out  to  the  boy  down  on  the  field  who,  in  his  hour  of 
defeat,  is  not  ashamed  of  a  few  tears,  and  I  always  want 
to  make  my  way  to  him  and  grasp  his  hand  and  tell  him  I 
know  he  will  win  next  time.  Those  tears  come  from  the 
heart,  and  that  boy  will  make  the  man  who,  later,  grits 
his  teeth  and  cuts  his  way  through  difficulties  in  this 
hurly-burly  world.  I  would  not  have  our  athletes  differ- 
ent. I  believe  that  to  whatsoever  one  turns  his  attention, 
whether  as  boy,  to  the  sport  of  his  college  days,  or  as 
man,  to  the  serious  side  of  life's  work  afterwards,  his  suc- 
cess is  the  more  likely  if  he  throws  his  whole  heart  into 
it;  and  one  cannot  risk  so  much  without  experiencing 
corresponding  emotion  over  the  result. 

It  is  by  no  means  in  this  respect  that  I  should  wish  our 
university  athletes,  and  the  traditions  that  inculcate  this 
spirit,  changed.  There  are  no  lessons  here  for  us  to  learn 
from  our  English  cousins.  But  it  is  in  the  lesser  prepara- 
tion, and  in  the  ''  business,"  if  I  may  use  the  word — and  I 
hope  I  shall  be  correctly  interpreted — ^that  leads  up  to  and 
surrounds  our  athletic  contests,  that  the  Englishman  sets 
a  good  example.  Particularly  would  I  like  to  see  its  soft- 
ening influences  at  work  on  the  hard  commercial  atmos- 
phere that  envelops  our  big  football  matches,  in  dimin- 
ishing the  amount  of  money  we  annuall}^  expend  fitting 
teams  for  contests,  in  moderating  the  speculative  eye  we 
have  for  large  gate-receipts,,  and  on  the  mystery  that  un- 
necessarily surrounds  so  much  of  the  'varsity  crew's  work 
as  ignores  the  undergraduate,  and  would  leave  him  out  of 
touch  with  it  altogether  but  for  his  superabundant  enthu- 
siasm and  loyalty  that  surmount  all  obstacles.  Here,  I 
think,  we  can  indeed  learn  a  much-needed  lesson,  nor  can 
we  learn  it  too  quickly. 


96 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


It  will  surprise  American  university  men  to  learn  that 
it  costs  about  $2300  to  maintain  the  Oxford  University 
Kugby  Union  football  team  during  the  season,  less  than 
$1500  for  the  Association  team,  and  in  the  neighborhood 

of  $;3000  for  the  track  ath- 
letic teams,  while  the  crew 
trains  and  buys  its  shells 
and  oars  at  an  annual  ex- 
penditure of  from  $2500  to 
$3000.  No  just  compari- 
son can  be  made  between 
the  English  university  foot- 
ball teams  and  our  own 
'varsity  elevens,  for  neither 
the  Eugby  Union  nor  the 
Association  approaches  our 
game  either  in  skill  or  de- 
mand on  the  players'  phys- 
ical endurance.  It  would  be 
utterly  impossible  to  fit  our 
football  players  on  the 
slight  training  done  by  the 
Englishmen,  whose  season 
of  preparation  is  very  much 
shorter,  and  whose  game  is 
simplicity  itself  compared 
with  ours.  But  in  rowing 
we  stand  on  more  equal  ba- 
sis, and  the  comparison  of 
figures  is  interesting.  Har- 
vard and  Yale  spend  from  $9000  to  $11,000  per  year  on 
their  crews,  of  which  the  'varsity  eights  probably  repre- 
sent from  $6000  to  $7000 ;  which  includes,  among  other 
things,  shells  that  cost  $500  to  $600,  oars  $125,  train- 


AN    ENGLISH    FOOTBALL    PLAYER 


UNIVERSITY   SPORTSMANSHIP  97 

ing  -  table  $1200  to  $1500,  and  JSTew  London  expenses 
about  $1200.  The  maintenance  of  an  American  univer- 
sity football  eleven  figures  between  $14,000  and  $10,000, 
a  baseball  nine  about  $8000  to  $10,000  (Harvard  last  year 
spent  $18,000),  and  a  track  athletic  team  about  $5000. 

Training-tables,  as  we  have  them,  are  unknown  at  either 
Oxford  or  Cambridge.  Football  teams  do  not  change 
their  usual  course  of  living  until  about  two  weeks  before 
the  inter-university  match,  when  they  dine  together  in 
the  common  hall,  and  on  food  more  or  less  especially 
prepared  for  them.  College  crews — that  is,  the  torpids 
and  the  eights  —  during  the  short  training  period  are 
breakfasted  together  by  members  of  the  college  to  which 
they  belong,  and  dine  as  usual  in  the  common  hall  and 
at  their  own  individual  expense.  The  'varsity  crew  has 
about  six  weeks  of  training;  during  the  three  weeks  at 
the  university  each  member  of  the  eight  in  turn  daily 
entertains  the  other  seven  at  a  breakfast  and  dinner,  while 
the  three  weeks  at  Futney,  making  the  final  preparations 
for  their  race,  are  spent  in  quarters  at  a  regular  training- 
table,  and  the  expenses  paid  b}^  their  respective  university 
boat  clubs. 

With  the  track  athletic  men  there  is  even  less  pre- 
tence at  training.  They  are  not  dined  together  even  so 
much  as  the  torpids,  and  receive  very  little  attention  un- 
til the  'varsity  teams,  that  meet  in  dual  competition  an- 
nually on  the  Queen's  Club  Grounds  in  London,  are  chosen, 
when  they  usually  have  a  week  or  ten  days  of  training  on 
the  university  grounds,  and  about  the  same  length  of  time 
at  Brighton,  where  they  have  the  sea  air  as  a  tonic  to  their 
daily  practice.  They  have  no  trainer,  and  the  care-taker 
of  the  grounds  acts  as  starter  and  general  factotum.  He 
may  or  may  not  have  any  particular  knowledge  of  one 
sport  or  another  (judging  from  the  average  form  I  saw  in 


98  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

shot-putting,  hammer-throwing,  jumping,  and  hurdhng,  I 
should  say  he  usually  had  not),  except  that  which  he  has 
picked  up  from  year  to  year  by  constant  association  with 
the  athletes. 

I  am  sure  that  throughout  my  study  of  English  univer- 
sity athletics  nothing  made  a  greater  impression  upon  me 
than  the  sportsmanlike  feeling  Avhich  exists,  and  is  per- 
fectly apparent  to  whosoever  cares  to  look,  between  Ox- 
ford and  Cambridge  crews  and  teams.  Whatever  one 
crew  does  at  Putney  the  other  may  see — if  it  likes.  There 
is  no  attempt  at  stealing  away,  no  substitutes  sent  out  to 
watch  and  report.  Each  is  on  the  Thames  to  perfect  its 
work,  and  the  other  is  at  liberty  to  "  size  it  up  "  as  much 
as  it  may  wish.  It  is  quite  common  for  one  crew  to  fol- 
low in  its  steam-launch  the  rowing  of  the  other.  Indeed, 
the  Cambridge  captain,  Mr.  C.  T,  Fogg-Elliot,  only  a  few 
days  before  the  race  this  year,  when  asked  if  he  had  any 
objections,  replied  :  "  Not  a  bit.  Follow  all  you  like,  and 
say  what  you  please."     And  he  meant  it. 

While  at  Putney  members  of  the  Oxford  crew  will 
occasionally  dine  at  the  Cambridge  training -table,  and 
the  latter  return  the  courtesy  in  kind.  The  men  do  not 
eye  one  another  askance,  and  there  is  none  of  the  embar- 
rassment that  attends  the  annual  Harvard- Yale  visitation 
when  the  crews  are  in  quarters  at  New  London.  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  being  a  guest  at  a  dinner  given  in  London 
by  the  Sports  Club  to  the  Oxford  and  Cambridge  Associ- 
ation football  teams  on  the  night  of  their  annual  match  at 
Queen's,  and  although  Cambridge  had  won  a  victory  that 
every  one — before  the  match — had  given  Oxford,  and 
although  every  Oxford  graduate  and  undergraduate  was 
cocksure  of  winning,  I  could  not,  at  the  tables,  distinguish 
the  victors  from  the  losers.  And  yet  again,  at  the 
University  Boat  Race  Dinner  on  the  night  of  the  day 


UNIVERSITY  SPORTSMANSHIP  101 

Oxford  rowed  easily  away  from  Cambridge,  was  I  the 
happy  witness  of  that  same  thoroughly  sportsmanlike 
spirit  that  makes  no  distinction  between  conquered  and 
conqueror.  I  shall  never  forget  those  experiences  of 
mine,  sitting  at  the  table  with  the  athletes  who  but  a  few 
hours  before  had  been  engaged  in  a  most  earnest  struggle 
to  outdo  the  other.  More  than  anything  else  in  all  my 
trip  it  brought  home  a  vivid  illustration  of  the  charm 
and  wholesomeness  of  sport  for  sport's  sake  only,  of  the 
raens  sana  in  coi'pore  sano. 

The  first  step  in  the  right  direction  was  taken  in  Amer- 
ica the  winter  of  '92-'93,  when  Colonel  Henry  L.  Higgin- 
son  dined  the  Harvard  and  Yale  elevens  in  Boston,  and 
perpetuated  the  following  year  in  ISTew  York  by  Judge 
Henry  E.  Rowland's  entertainment  of  the  elevens  from 
the  same  two  universities.  May  the  spirit  thus  begun 
develop  until  it  has  reached  the  farthermost  corners  of 
the  United  States,  and  the  day  arrive  when  Harvard  and 
Yale  will  dine  in  harmony  on  the  night  of  their  annual 
boat-race,  as  do  Oxford  and  Cambridge. 

I  cannot  refrain  from  recounting  another  incident  to 
yet  further  accentuate  this  sportsmanlike  spirit  and  per- 
fect willingness  that  all  London,  or  the  whole  world, 
should  see  the  crews  at  practice,  if  it  cared  to  make  the 
journey  to  Putney.  The  first  morning  I  went  to  Putney, 
Mr.  Lehmann,  one  of  the  two  Oxford  coaches,  whom  I  had 
met,  was  detained  in  town,  and  did  not  turn  up ;  therefore 
I  asked  a  boatman  to  point  out  to  me  the  other  coach,  Mr. 
McLean,  and,  approaching  the  latter,  asked  if  the  crew 
was  going  out,  and  when.  With  recollections  of  New 
London  experiences  I  expected  to  have  a  well-bred,  non- 
committal English  stare  turned  full  upon  me.  Judge, 
then,  my  surprise  when  Mr.  McLean  informed  me,  with 
as  much  consideration  as  thouo^h  I  were  the  most  honored 


PUTNEY    BRIDGE,  STARTING-POINT    OF    THK    OXFORD-CAMBRIDGE    BOAT-RACE 

old  "  blue,"  that  the  crew  was  going  out  in  about  half  an 
hour,  but  only  for  a  short  paddle,  and  that  if  I  wanted  to 
see  it  at  work  I  had  better  come  that  afternoon,  when  the 
men  would  launch  their  boat  at  "  quarter  before  three," 

And  he  knew  me  at  that  time  only  as  one  of  the  several 
hundred  interested  spectators  standing  on  the  river-bank 
waiting  for  the  crew  to  bring  out  its  boat !  Fancy  asking 
a  Yale  or  Harvard  coach  at  what  hour  the  crew  would 
come  out,  and  the  best  j)lace  to  see  it  at  work !  Perhaps 
a  stranger  would  be  told  all  about  it ! — per — haps ! 

It  is  to  be  expected  that  with  such  a  spirit  permeat- 
ing the  athletic  system  the  question  of  eligibility  would 
rarely,  if  ever,  be  raised.  Each  university  assumes  it  is 
meeting  sportsmen  and  gentlemen,  and  the}^  have  been 
carried  through  many  years  of  competition  with  scarcely 
a  scandal.  No  entry  is  ever  challenged,  and  a  departure 
from  custom  or  tradition  is  regarded,  both  in  and  out  of 
the  university,  as  an  acknowledgment  of  weakness.  For 
instance,  there  happened  to  be  in  this  ('94)  years  Cam- 
bridge shell  a  man  who,  in  the  spirit  of  the  law,  was  not 
eligible.  Although  he  had  not  pulled  a  'varsity  oar  four 
years — the  limit,  it  is  tacitly  understood,  a  man  may  rep- 
resent his  university,  without  there  being  a  positive  ruling 
to  that  effect — his  being  in  the  boat  was  unusual,  but  ac- 
cepted without  protest  by  Oxford  as  a  confession  by  Cam- 
bridge of  their  sore  need ;  and  that  was  the  end  of  it. 


UNIVERSITY   SPORTSMANSHIP  103 

There  is  no  limit  of  years  a  man  ma}"  row  on  his  college 
eight  in  the  summer  regattas,  though  four  is  the  stipu- 
lated time  on  a  'varsity,  football,  cricket,  and  athletic 
team,  and  it  bespeaks  the  sportsmanship  of  the  under- 
graduate body  that  this,  in  our  eyes,  lax  ruling  is  so  sel- 
dom taken  advantage  of.  There  are  no  meetings  every 
now  and  ag^ain  to  consider  this  one's  or  that  one's  elig-ibil- 
ity  ;   names  of  men  not  really  lona  fide  undergraduates 


AN    ORniNARY    PUNT 

Racing  punt  has  the  eiifis  decked  over  and  is  much  narrower 


are  rarely  offered  for  candidacy,  and  captains  neither  seek 
nor  encourage  them.  It  is  simply  a  tradition  that  the 
colleges  and  universities  shall  be  represented  by  athletes 
from  the  student  body,  and  no  one  thinks  of  asking  why, 
or  attempts  to  evade  the  prerogatives  of  custom.  If  a 
college  puts  on  a  man  not  strictly  in  keeping  with  the 


104  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

spirit  of  the  unwritten  law,  it  places  that  college  in  an 
undesirable  light  before  all  the  others.  As  a  university 
man  said  to  me  when  I  asked  him  point-blank  what  there 
was  to  prevent  a  captain  or  college  or  even  university 
from  putting  on  crack  men  who  were  not  eligible,  "  There 
is  nothing  to  prevent,  but  the  university  would  not  like  it, 
and  it  would  be  bad  form,  you  know."  I  need  hardly  add 
that  there  are  no  efforts  made  by  either  university  to 
induce  good  football  players  or  oarsmen  to  forsake  one 
for  the  other ;  even  the  recruiting  among  preparatory 
schools — Eton,  Harrow,  and  the  others — is  nil,  and  ma- 
triculating to  play  on  an  eleven  or  row  in  the  boat  would 
be  somewhat  of  a  novelty.  If  men  ever  do  return  to  play 
football  or  cricket  or  to  row  (as,  for  example,  like  the 
Cambridge  oarsman  cited  before),  no  disguise  is  attempted. 

Men  who  attain  the  distinction  given  by  making  the 
'varsity  crews  and  teams  are  called  "  blues  "  at  the  English 
universities.  A  significance  derived  from  the  fact  that 
only  such  as  they  are  entitled  to  wear  the  'varsity  color, 
which  with  Oxford  is  dark  blue,  and  with  Cambridge 
light  blue.  The  substitutes,  or  second-string  men,  are 
known  in  track  athletics  only  as  half-blues,  and  not  en- 
titled to  the  full  blue  caps,  shirts,  or  coats. 

The  athletic  costumes  are  highly  pleasing  in  their  mod- 
esty. The  track  athletes  do  not  wear  inappropriate  and 
indecent  rowing-shirts,  but  add  to  them  quarter-sleeves ; 
while  the  oarsmen  do  not  strip  to  the  buff,  as  our  college 
oarsmen  do.  Respectable  costumes  appear  not  to  handi- 
cap their  performances.  Oxford  and  Cambridge  have  a 
pretty  custom  of  sporting  their  colors  in  the  annual  eight- 
oared  race  by  means  of  a  tiny  flag  (about  six  inches  square) 
flown  from  a  correspondingly  diminutive  staff  in  the  bow 
of  the  boat,  where  all  may  see  it. 

The  manner  of  meeting  the  athletic  expenses  of  the 


UNIVERSITY  SPORTSMANSHIP  107 

university  is  entirely  in  accord  with  the  spirit  that  gives 
all  sport  in  the  English  universities  such  wholesome  life. 
It  is  fairly  well  known,  I  doubt  not ;  but,  for  the  few  to 
whom  it  may  be  news,  let  me  say  that  Oxford  University 
is  composed  of  twenty  colleges  and  three  halls  (colleges  of 
lesser  importance) ;  Cambridge  of  eighteen  colleges.  Each 
college  has  its  own  athletic  association.  At  some,  rowing, 
football,  cricket,  track,  and  all  athletic  interests  are  amal- 
gamated and  have  a  common  treasury,  to  which  each  con- 
tributes and  on  which  all  draw.  In  other  colleges,  thousfh 
the  number  is  comparatively  small,  every  athletic  organi- 
zation has  a  distinct  treasury.  But,  whether  united  or  di- 
vided, the  system  of  supply  is  the  same. 

Every  man  when  he  ''goes  up"  (they  "go  up"  when 
they  matriculate,  and  "  go  down  "  when  they  graduate  in 
English  universities)  lends  his  support  to  whichever  of  his 
college  athletic  interests  he  is  predisposed ;  if  he  rows,  in 
addition  to  his  own  college  club  he  joins  the  university 
boat  club,  and  pays  a  certain  small  sum,  representing  his 
initiation  fee  and  dues.  From  this  fund,  annually  re- 
cruited, each  college  maintains  its  several  football,  cricket, 
athletic  teams,  and  crews. 

For  the  support  of  the  university  teams  and  crews  each 
college  is  assessed  jper  capita,  giving  according  to  the 
number  of  its  athletic  undergraduates,  besides  which  it 
pays  entrance  fees  to  the  university  boat  club  for  each 
crew  in  the  summer  regatta.  In  other  words,  every 
athlete  in  the  English  university  pays  his  contribution 
towards  the  maintenance  of  the  university  sport.  If  he 
runs,  the  prizes  are  a  silver  medal  for  first  and  second, 
both  medals  being  alike  in  value ;  and  if  he  rows,  the  tro- 
phies are  flags  or  well- chosen  but  inexpensive  cups  or 
medals. 

Contributions  from  the  underoraduates  are  not  neces- 


108  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

sary  in  our  universities,  or  at  least  have  not  been  during 
the  last  few  years,  because  of  the  increased  drawing  prop- 
erties of  football  and  baseball,  whose  large  receipts  have 
not  only  supported  these  teams  and  the  crews,  but  aided 
in  furnishing  American  universities  with  the  finest  and 
most  completely  equipped  athletic  fields  and  buildings  in 
the  world. 

And  this  brings  us  to  the  question  of  gate  receipts, 
where  again  we  may  with  profit  carefully  study  the  ex- 
ample set  us  by  the  Englishmen.  Nearly  all  the  foot- 
ball games  played  at  Oxford  are  free  to  the  public,  the 
only  occasion  on  which  a  charge  is  made  being  when 
the  visiting  team  happens  to  be  one  of  the  numerous 
semi-professional  combinations  with  which  Great  Brit- 
ain is  filled  to  overflowing,  and  that  have  an  eye  to  the 
gate.  At  Cambridge  the  same  is  practically  true,  only  a 
little  more  so,  for  the  university  owns  no  enclosed  foot- 
ball ground,  nor,  indeed,  an  athletic  field,  strange  to  re- 
late— and,  by-the-way,  is  endeavoring  just  now  to  raise 
enough  money  to  purchase  one.  In  the  meantime  all 
athletic  meetings  are  held  on  an  enclosed  field  which  is 
rented  from  the  cricket  club.  Near  this  is  an  open  com- 
mon large  enough  for  twenty  football  fields,  on  which 
most  of  the  football  matches  are  played.  A  few  of  the 
colleges  of  Cambridge  have  private  cricket  grounds,  and 
some  even  a  football  field,  but  these  are  not  free  to  the 
university. 

Apropos  of  the  large  number  of  men  that  go  in  for 
one  kind  or  another  of  sport,  one  Saturday  while  at 
Cambridge  I  counted  one  lacrosse,  one  hockey,  and  four 
football  matches  being  played  simultaneously  on  the  big 
common,  while  the  university  track  athletic  sports  were 
being  decided  on  Fenner's  field,  near  by,  and  down  on  the 
river  I  found  six  eights  at  work. 


:  I 


UNIVERSITY  SPORTSMANSHIP  111 

Oxford  is  much  more  favored  in  the  matter  of  athletic 
fields.  First  of  all  it  has  an  immense  tract  of  land  open 
to  the  sight-seeing  public  called  "  The  Parks  "  (I  counted 
one  cricket  and  nine  football  fields  marked  out,  and  there 
is  room  for  as  many  more),  on  which  all  university  football 
and  cricket  matches  are  played.  Then  there  is  a  Univer- 
sity Athletic  Association  field,  a  recent  acquisition,  and  a 
handsome  club-house,  with  dressing-rooms,  and  a  reading- 
room  up-stairs,  where  during  meetings  the  very  charm- 
ing and  thoroughly  English  custom  of  serving  tea  is 
observed.  This  field  is  devoted  entirely  to  track  ath- 
letics, and  an  admission  fee  charged,  to  go  towards  pay- 
ing for  the  club-house.  Besides  this,  several  of  the  col- 
leges have  cricket  and  football  fields  of  their  own,  and 
lawn-tennis  courts  are  scattered  over  the  university  pre- 
cincts. Oxford  and  Cambridge  never  meet  on  one  an- 
other's grounds.  There  are  no  home-and-home  games. 
Their  two  football  matches,  Rugby  Union  and  Associ- 
ation, and  their  track  athletic  contests,  are  decided  on 
the  Queen's  Club  ground  in  London ;  their  cricket  match 
at  Lords,  also  in  London ;  their  boat-race,  as  everybody 
knows,  of  course,  on  the  Thames,  from  Putney  to  Mort- 
lake. 

In  every  instance  where  there  is  an  entrance  fee  the 
general  admission  is  usually  a  shilling,  with  possibly  a 
sixpence  or  another  shillmg  for  any  particularly  reserved 
place.  At  athletic  games  and  football  matches  on  both 
university  grounds,  and  at  ^Queen's  Ckib,  it  is  a  shilling, 
with  a  sixpence  for  a  programme,  though  at  the  annual 
Oxford -Cambridge  track  athletic  meeting  at  Queen's, 
which  equals  cricket  in  quality  of  spectators,  five  shil- 
lings is  charged  for  some  seats. 

At  the  'varsity  cricket-match  at  Lords,  where  the  largest 
and  most  generally  fashionable  concourse  of  spectators 


112  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

may  be  seen,  and  which  lasts  for  three  days,  the  daily 
popular  admission  will  be  one  shilling,  while  a  guinea 
($5.25)  gives  a  reserved  seat  in  the  public  stand  for  the 
three  days  of  the  match.  The  universities  get  a  third, 
I  believe,  of  the  gate  receipts  of  the  contest  at  Queen's 
and  Lords.  There  are  also  club  pavilions,  open  only  to 
members. 

The  particularly  pleasing  side  of  these  small  entrance 
fees  is  the  retention  of  the  low  figure  at  which  they  were 
originally  placed,  notwithstanding  the  greatly  increased 
popularity  of  the  sports. 

It  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  remind  American  univer- 
sity men  of  the  very  distinct  difference  between  this  esti- 
mable plan  of  the  Englishman  and  our  enterprising  watch- 
fulness over  the  gate  receipts.  There  was  a  day,  within 
the  memory  of  us  all,  when  the  charges  to  our  games 
were  comparatively  small,  but,  as  football  and  baseball 
grew  in  popular  favor,  the  admission  fees  increased  pro- 
portionately, until  now,  if  we  are  fortunate  enough  to  get 
them  at  first  hands,  it  costs  two  dollars  and  a  half  for  a 
ticket  to  a  Harvard- Yale-Princeton  football  match,  two 
dollars  to  have  a  seat  at  the  Intercollegiate  championships, 
and  one  dollar  and  a  half  to  see  a  game  of  baseball. 

My  mission  in  Great  Britain,  however,  was  to  make  a 
study  of  English  amateur  sport,  and  not  to  write  dis- 
sertations on  the  questionable  policy  of  exalted  charges 
at  our  own  university  games ;  but  I  cannot  resist  drawing 
comparisons,  nor  from  reiterating  what  I  have  so  often 
said,  that  we  are  doing  college  sport  a  great  injury  by 
making  it  so  much  of  a  business  venture  —  a  charge  to 
which  we  lend  color  by  giving  the  revenue  of  our  games 
such  important  consideration.  It  is  a  harm  probably  we 
all  do  not  appreciate  just  at  the  present  day,  but  there  is 
no  question  that,  in  the  course  of  a  year  or  so,  if  present 


UNIVERSITY   SPORTSMANSHIP  113 

methods  are  continued,  the  time  must  come  when  we  will 
realize  that  we  could  have  done  college  amateur  sport  a 
much  better  service,  and  put  our  teams  into  the  field  just 
as  fit,  and  won  quite  as  many  victories,  on  treasuries  con- 
siderably less  corpulent  than  those  that  obtain  to-day  at 
Harvard,  Yale,  and  Princeton.  Money,  money,  money, 
seems  to  be  the  cry,  and  it  Avill  be  the  curse,  if  indeed 
not  the  downfall,  of  honest  university  sport.  1  hope  I 
shall  live  to  see  fifty  cents  the  limit  of  admission  to  our 
great  football  games,  one  dollar  purchase  the  best  re- 
served seat,  and  the  match  decided  either  on  college 
grounds  or  removed  from  large  cities,  where  the  mass 
that  has  no  special  interest  in  the  outcome  of  the  sport 
gathers  to  give  it  the  coloring  of  a  mere  holiday  spectacle. 


V 
ROWING 

AT    OXFORD    AND    CAMBRIDGE 

All  things  have  had  a  beginning,  but  one  must  go  back 
to  the  monks,  whose  cloister  game  had  so  close  a  connec- 
tion with  the  origin  of  our  present  court-tennis,  if  one  de- 
sires to  reach  the  beginning  of  sport  at  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge on  either  land  or  water.  There  seems  always,  in 
fact,  to  have  been  sport  of  one  kind  or  another  at  the 
English  universities — a  trite  remark,  by-the-w^ay,  since  the 
same  might  be  said  with  equal  truth  of  any  institution  of 
Anglo-Saxon  foundation.  To  what  the  very  first  English 
undergraduates  turned  their  athletic  attention  has  not 
been  given  posterity,  but  the  earliest  sport,  so  far  as  I 
could  get  au}^  definite  tracing,  seems  to  have  been  fox- 
hunting. Although  of  a  necessity  riding  to  hounds  must 
have  been  limited  to  those  that  could  afford  such  compar- 
atively expensive  sport,  yet  it  appears  to  have  had  quite  a 
following.  To  be  sure  it  never  became  common  to  the 
student  bod}^,  as  the  various  branches  of  athletics  are  to- 
day, but  alumni  reminiscences  in  personal  diaries  dating 
well  back  to  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  indicate 
that  it  flourished  enthusiastically  among  a  certain  per- 
centage of  undergraduates.  !N"aturally  fox-hunting  begat 
a  certain  amount  of  steeple-chasing,  to  which  in  turn  is 
accredited,  many  years  later — about  1850— the  organiza- 
tion of  the  first  cross-country  run  on  foot.  History  records 


ROWING— AT  OXFORD  AND   CAMBRIDGE  117 

tliat  an  unsatisfactory  day's  sport  over  the  hurdles,  be- 
cause of  poor  mounts,  led  to  an  indignation  meeting  of  the 
riders,  and  the  suggestion  of  a  cross-country  run,  which 
came  off  a  few  days  later,  to  the  immortalization  of  the 
ver}^  leg- weary  but  plucky  boys  that  covered  the  course. 

Throughout  the  history  of  sport  at  both  Oxford  and 
Cambridge  a  considerable  element  of  horsemen  is  found 
down  to  the  present  day.  While  neither  of  the  universi- 
ties has  an  organized  hunt,  the  undergraduates  of  each 
have  ample  opportunity  of  riding  to  hounds  with  the 
several  good  packs  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  Oxford 
being  probably  a  little  more  favored  in  this  particular, 
though  more  men  at  Cambridge  keep  horses — a  fact  which 
the  nearness  of  Newmarket  very  likely  explains. 

The  only  hunting  done  from  the  universities  is  after  the 
Christ  Church,  Oxford,  and  Trinity  College,  Cambridge, 
beagle  packs,  which  have  regular  runs,  sometimes  after 
rabbit,  frequently  over  a  drag,  and  always  followed  afoot. 
Both  also  play  polo,  and  annually  decide  an  inter-univer- 
sity match,  which  sometimes  shows  pretty  good  form,  but 
more  often  does  not.  Then,  too,  Oxford  perpetuates  the 
memory  of  its  early  steeple -chasing  days  by  holding  a 
meeting  every  year  a  few  miles  outside  the  university 
precincts,  which,  although  not  recognized  by  the  faculty, 
nevertheless  flourishes,  and  is  one  of  the  most  interesting 
sporting  fixtures  of  the  year. 

First  in  importance  and  in  the  affections  of  all  Eng- 
lish university  men  is  boating,  which,  although  appearing 
always  to  have  been  in  vogue,  has  no  authentic  records 
earlier  than  1822,  and  those  from  the  private  diary  of  a 
'varsity  oar.  Even  what  one  reads  of  this  period  alludes 
to  rowing  as  something  that  had  been  going  on  time  out 
of  mind,  and  there  is  no  way,  consequently,  of  knowing 
when  it  actually  began,  unless  one  went  back  to  the  intro- 


118  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

duction  of  pleasure-boats  in  England.  There  is,  I  have 
been  told,  somewhere  an  ancient  pamphlet,  though  I  could 
not  put  my  hand  on  it,  that  tells  of  rowing  at  Oxford  in 
1815,  but  even  this  would  not  reach  the  beginning,  for 
Eton,  England's  renowned  public  school,  is  said  to  have 
preceded  both  Oxford  and  Cambridge.  By  -  the  -  way,  the 
term  "  public  school  "  has  a  different  significance  in  Eng- 
land from  what  we  understand  in  America.  Eton,  Har- 
row, Winchester,  Westminster,  Charterhouse,  the  famous 
preparatory  schools  for  the  universities,  are  called  public 
schools,  though  they  are  no  more  public  in  our  applied  in- 
terpretation of  the  word — i.e.,  free  tuition — than  are  our 
Exeter,  Andover,  St.  Paul's,  and  Lawrenceville,  to  which 
they  correspond.  Such  as  we  call  public  (free)  schools- 
are  in  England  known  as  board  schools,  from  being  gov- 
erned by  supervisory  boards. 

Of  the  Eton  rowing  one  can  only  say  that  it  existed 
before  any  history  on  the  subject,  in  print  to-day,  was 
written,  and  next  to  Eton  was  Oxford,  and,  following  it, 
Cambridge.  Which  was  the  first  of  the  Oxford  University 
colleges  to  put  on  a  boat  seems  equally  indefinite,  for  the 
records  of  this  university,  particularly  of  the  early  years 
before  the  forties,  are  singularl}^  incomplete  and  vague, 
and  in  most  instances  gathered  from  private  diaries.  Christ 
Church,  Brasenose  (invariably  written  and  spoken  of  as 
B.  N.  C),  Jesus,  Exeter,  Queen's,  and  Balliol  appear  to 
have  been  the  first  on  the  river,  and  tradition  has  it  that 
the  great  rivalry  of  those  very  early  daj^s  was  between  the 
B.  N.  C.  and  Jesus  boats. 

The  Brasenose  boat-club  record  covers  a  few  of  the  early 
years  between  '30  and  '37,  but  gives  very  Uttle  information 
other  than  the  number  and  names  of  the  boats  that  were 
on  the  river,  and  contains  nothing  tangible  of  the  earlier 
history. 


ROWING— AT   OXFORD   AND   CAMBRIDGE  119 

As  everybody  knows,  the  first  Oxford  and  Cambridge 
University  race  was  in  1829,  the  second  not  until  1836, 
and  another  not  until  1839.  The  intermediate  years  fur- 
nish interest  chiefly  from  the  increase  of  college  crews  on 
the  river  and  the  growing  boating  spirit. 

The  date  of  the  first  bumping  race  is  quite  beyond  the 
historian's  ken,  but  from  the  nature  of  the  rivers  at  both 
Oxford  and  Cambridge  it  is  highly  probable  it  must  have 
been  the  very  earliest  of  college  boat  racing.  The  story 
handed  down  of  the  origin  of  these  races  at  Oxford  tells 
of  undergraduates  who,  having  gone  picnicking  upon  the 
Isis  above  the  locks,  and  remaining  until  the  eleventh 
hour,  raced  back  to  get  home  betimes.  No  one  has  any- 
thing to  say  how^  the  choice  of  turn  at  the  locks  was 
settled  on  the  first  occasion,  but  it  is  simple  to  understand 
that,  after  several  of  these  excursions,  the  boats  took  pre- 
cedence according  to  their  prowess,  and  that  their  place — 
or  position,  as  it  is  called — on  the  river  soon  became,  as 
it  is  to-day,  a  survival  of  the  fittest.  Their  method  of 
getting  out  of  the  lock  was  as  expeditious  as  unique :  the 
stroke  w^ent  forward,  and,  shoving  against  the  side  of  the 
lock,  ran  down  the  gunwale  of  the  boat  until  he  reached 
his  seat,  when  he  dropped  into  it  and  set  to  work.  So 
soon  as  one  boat  got  out  another  followed  as  quickly  as 
possible,  and  then  the  next  and  the  next,  until  all  were 
racing  for  home  and  dear  life. 

The  transition  from  this  primitive,  if  effective,  system 
to  the  present  bumping  races  seems  simple,  for  there  could 
not  have  been  many  of  these  early  aquatic  sprees  before 
it  became  apparent  that  the  narrowness  of  the  river 
would  not  permit  an  overtaking  boat  to  pass  the  one  it 
was  rowing  down  without  danger  of  collision. 

Thus  it  came  about  naturally  that,  instead  of  attempting 
to  pass  one  another,  that  crew  was  considered   to  have 


120 


A   SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 


II.  W  Taunt  &  Co. 


shown  its  superior  speed 
which  succeeded  in  over- 
taking and  bumping  a 
leading  boat,  and  there- 
fore took  the  bumped 
boat's  turn  in  getting 
out  of  the  lock  on  the 
next  junketing  trip  up 
the  Isis.  The  rule  in 
force  to-day  on  both  uni- 
versity rivers,  that  one 
boat  may  not  pass  another  on  penalty  of  fine,  owes  its 
existence  to  the  experiences  of  those  days. 

As  may  be  supposed,  the  boats  that  figured  in  these 
early  contests  were  of  the  kind  called  in  England  clinker 
built  and  known  to  us  as  lapstreaks,  which  Harvard  and 
Yale  used  in  their  first  races,  and  which  are  used  to-day 
at  Oxford  and  Cambridge  for  ''  tubbmg." 

Although  rowing  was  first  taken  up  at  Oxford,  Cam- 
bridge seems  to  have  been  much  more  advanced  in  the 
organization  of  its  boating  interests  and  in  the  complete- 
ness of  its  early  records.  The  University  Boat  Club  at 
Cambridge,  indeed,  was  formed  in  1827,  but  it  would  be  ex- 
traneous to  the  subject  in  hand  to  lio  into  an  unimportant 
detail,  therefore  I 
shall  confine  my- 
self to  only  such 
history  as  marks 
eras  in  the  English 
university  boating 
progress. 

Among  some  old 
books  at  Oxford  I 


unearthed 


few 


W.  Tiiiint  &  Co. 


THK    ORIGINA 


A    COACHING    'tub 

records  that  seemed  to  me  to  be  of  interest  to  all  students 
(whether  English  or  American)  of  early  university  row- 
ing. 

In  183T,  Christ  Church,  Corpus  Christi,  Exeter,  Balliol, 
Queen's,  St.  John's,  and  Wadham  had  boats  on  the  river, 
and  a  curious  foot-note  to  the  statement  says  they  '-rowed 
without  gang -board  [whatever  that  may  mean!],  and 
started  with  a  w^hole  stroke  instead  of  a  half  one  as  be- 
fore." In  this  year,  too,  although  there  was  no  Oxford- 
Cambridge  University  race.  Queen's  College,  as  head  of 
the  river  at  Oxford,  and  St.  John's,  as  occupying  a  similar 
position  at  Cambridge,  raced  2j  miles  on  the  Thames,  the 
former  winning  in  14  minutes  and  10  seconds. 

I  could  not  discover  the  precise  year  the  torpids  began 
rowing,  but  frequent  references  are  made  to  them  as  being 
on  the  river  in  1836. 

In  1838  the  strokes  of  all  the  rowino'  colleges  at  Oxford 


122  A  SFORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

met  to  consider  a  challenge  from  Cambridge  to  row  in 
London  ;  but  at  this  time,  as  there  was  no  university  boat 
club  at  Oxford,  and  no  'varsity  crew,  Oxford  in  reply  pro- 
posed to  row  their  first  boat  on  the  river  against  that  of 
Cambridge,  an  offer  the  latter  declined  on  the  plea  of 
their  first  boat's  crew,  St.  John's,  not  being  in  good  con- 
dition. The  outcome  of  this  challenge,  however,  was  the 
formation  that  same  year  of  the  Oxford  University  Boat 
Club,  "  to  have  a  crew  continually  practising  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  university,  and  also  funds  to  pay  the  expense 
of  any  race." 

The  following  year  they  launched  their  first  'varsity 
boat  and  christened  it  the  Isis,  a  description  of  which 
somewhat  recalls  the  Oneida  and  Shaivmut,  the  famous 
first  racing-boats  of  Harvard  and  Yale.  It  was  51  feet  6 
inches  long,  "  colored  white  inside,  with  dark-blue  gun- 
wale inside  and  out,  oars  up  to  neck  painted  white,  with 
dark-blue  blades."  Cambridge  this  same  year  had  a  boat 
49  feet  6  inches  in  length,  pulled  by  a  crew  averaging  11 
stone  5  pounds  (159  pounds).  In  the  early  days  of  English 
university  boating,  watermen — -i.e.,  professional  boatmen 
or  employes  of  the  various  college  boat  clubs — frequent- 
ly rowed  under  college  colors.  Cambridge  however,  in 
1839,  passed  a  rule  that  its  boat  "  should  be  manned  by 
gentlemen  steerers,  and  the  crew  to  be  undergraduates  or 
those  passed  at  the  last  examinations."  Oxford  followed 
by  a  similar  rule  prohibiting  such  mixing  of  amateur  and 
professional  elements,  so  that  the  early  forties  witnessed 
the  entire  abandonment  of  the  practice. 

College  crews  at  this  time  could  not  have  been  confined 
to  their  own  students,  judging  by  some  personal  diaries 
which  record  as  not  an  unusual  thing  Brasenose  men  row- 
ing in  an  Exeter  boat,  or  Queen's  men  having  a  seat  in  a 
Corpus  Christi  boat.     But  in  1842  Balliol  inaugurated  a 


'^ir. 


II.  W.  Tuuiil  Jt  (1  .. 

A    "ci.inkkr"   KOUR-OAR 

Showing  position  of  soats  that  obtains  in  all  English 

racing- boats 


UOWING-AT   OXFOUD  AND   CAMBRIDGE  125 

system,  now  general,  by  forming  a  boat  club,  and  restrict- 
ing the  crew  to  the  undergraduates  of  its  own  college. 
They  signalized  this  departure  by  launching  a  new  boat, 
christened  St.  Catharine,  quite  the  most  ornate  in  English 
uniyersit}^  boating  history.  It  was  built  of  oak,  52  feet 
long,  '*  black  and  gold,  with  a  red  streak  outside,  oars 
varnished  half-way  do^yn,  blades  black,  with  red  ring  be- 
tween black  and  yarnish,  dolphins  on  blades,  and  college 
arms  on  the  rudder." 

It  may  be  assumed  that  at  this  period  the  rowing  spirit 
of  the  uniyersities  was  increasing  materially  every  year, 
'yarsity  crews  created  more  enthusiasm,  and  so  numerous 
did  candidates  become  for  the  torpids  and  eights  as  to 
create  a  rule  at  Oxford  in  1842  allowing  colleges  to  put 
on  two  eights,  provided  they  had  also  one  torpid  on  the 
river;  a  rule,  by-the-way,  that  has  been  since  rescinded, 
as  each  college  is  permitted  now  to  put  on  but  one  eight, 
although  it  may  have  as  many  torpids  as  it  can  muster. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  rowing  was  progressing 
in  these  years  without  hinderance.  It  would  be  curious 
indeed  if  it  had  been  without  set-backs,  for  the  early  his- 
tory of  no  sport  shows  it  to  have  been  entirely  clear  of 
obstacles,  either  in  England  or  America. 

The  greatest  difficulty  with  which  English  college  boat- 
ing-men had  to  contend  seems  to  have  been  an  evident 
disinclination  of  university  authorities  to  either  recognize 
their  sport  or  restrain  their  active  opposition. 

I  found  in  some  musty  old  books  a  fiat  that  had  been 
pronounced  against  "playing  of  marbles  on  the  steps  of 
the  Bodleian "  (the  famous  library  building  of  Oxford), 
and  "  bowling  of  a  hoop  down  High  Street,"  the  winding 
and  picturesque  thoroughfare  of  Oxford  ;  yet  again  these 
faculty  prerogatives  were  exercised,  and  touched  the  boat- 
ing-men more  closely,  for  in  1837  the  Christ  Church  crew, 


126  A   SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

Avhen  head  of  the  river,  Avas  taken  off,  because  rowing 
Avas  not  "gentlemanly  amusement."  But  this  opposition 
could  have  been  only  short-lived,  for  there  is  nothing  to 
show  that  the  sport  was  actually  retarded,  and  it  is  obvi- 
ous the  undergraduate  enthusiasm  was  not  diminished  by 
these  strictures,  for  in  1858  Oxford  had  fourteen  eights 
on  the  river,  and  as  there  are  to-day  only  about  twenty. 
It  is  evident  the  boating  spirit  was  pretty  keen  at  that 
time. 

Turning  now  for  a  running  glance  at  our  own  univer- 
sity boating  history  by  wa}^  of  comparison,  we  find  that 
while  Oxford  in  1858  had  fourteen  boats  on  the  river, 
Harvard  and  Yale  had  rowed  but  two  races,  and  at  each 
rowing  was  in  its  infanc}^  The  Yale  Boat  Club,  indeed, 
which  has  the  honor  of  being,  in  point  of  age,  the  second 
rowing  club  in  America  (the  Detroit  Boat  Club,  organ- 
ized in  1839,  being  the  first),  was  formed  in  1843,  as  every 
American  college  man  knows,  and  the  Harvard  Boat  Club 
in  1816.  From  1860  to  1861,  w^hen  there  were  no  races  be- 
tween Harvard  and  Yale,  and  the  sport  was  having  a  par- 
ticularly hard  struggle  for  existence,  Oxford  was  putting 
twenty-seven  crews  on  the  Isis  annually — sixteen  eights 
and  eleven  torpids.  Oxford  and  Cambridge  had  their 
first  boat-race  in  1829 ;  Harvard  and  Yale  in  1852.  It 
became  a  regular  annual  fixture  with  the  former  from 
1856,  with  the  latter  from  1876.  Oxford  and  Cambridge 
first  used  wooden  outriggers  in  1846 ;  Yale  introduced 
them  in  1855.  In  1857  the  English  crews  rowed  in  boats 
Avithout  keel  as  they  do  to-day,  and  in  the  same  year  Har- 
vard built  a  six-oared  shell,  the  first  one  in  America,  40 
feet  long  (made  short  in  order  to  turn  a  stake  easil}'),  of 
white  pine,  and  fitted  with  iron  outriggers.  English  uni- 
versities used  sliding  seats  for  the  first  time  in  1873;  Yale 
in  1870.     The  English  universitv  best  time  is  18  minutes 


ROWING— AT  OXFORD  AND   CAMBRIDGE  129 

47  seconds,  made  last  year  (1893)  by  Oxford  in  the  race 
against  Cambridge  from  Putney  to  Mortlake,  a  distance 
of  four  and  a  quarter  miles,  with  a  strong  tide  and  wind 
in  their  favor,  or,  to  quote  from  the  records  of  the  race, 
"an  easterly  wind  on  the  back  of  a  flood  tide";  the 
American  university  best  time  is  20  minutes  and  10  sec- 
onds, made  by  Yale  against  Harvard  in  1888  over  the 
four-mile  course  on  the  Thames  at  New  London,  with  a 
fair  tide.  It  is  not  possible  to  draw  comparisons  between 
the  best  times  made  by  the  Oxford  and  Yale  crews,  for 
the  course  from  Putney  to  Mortlake  is  a  fast  one,  much 
more  so  than  that  of  our  own  Thames,  and  in  1893  it 
was  especially  favoring.  Indeed,  the  tides  of  the  English 
Thames  will  average  between  four  and  six  miles  an  hour, 
and  it  is  a  recorded  fact  that  of  late  years  they  run  up  and 
out  much  quicker  than  formerly,  owing  to  natural  forces 
at  work  on  the  embankment  and  channel ;  therefore  the 
crews  of  these  days  have  much  more  favoring  conditions, 
so  far  as  pace  of  tide  is  concerned,  than  those  of  four  or 
five  years  ago.  On  the  American  Thames  the  tides  on 
race-day  will,  on  an  average,  run  from  one  to  two  miles 
an  hour. 

Dropping  history  and  coming  down  to  the  present,  I 
believe  I  can  give  the  clearest  impression  of  the  system 
and  conditions  of  boat-racing  at  the  English  universities 
by  telling  how  the  crews  are  made  up,  what  races  they 
have,  their  training,  etc.  It  may  be  understood  that  what 
I  say  applies  to  both  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  except  one 
or  the  other  is  mentioned  particularly,  though,  generally 
speaking,  Oxford  is  cited,  from  the  fact  of  its  crews  stand- 
ing pre-eminent  in  university  racing. 

By  all  odds  the  boating  interest  is  the  greatest  one  at 
both  of  the  universities.  I  have  heard  it  said  by  casual 
observers  that  football  attracts  larger  crowds  and  creates 


130  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

more  general  interest,  but  ray  careful  investigations  during 
a  visit  at  each  university  have  not  borne  out  such  assertions, 
and  I  believe  I  am  right  in  saying  that  rowing  appeals  more 
generally  to  the  undergraduates  than  any  other  single 
sport,  not  even  excepting  cricket.  IS'or  are  there  more 
individual  men  actually  playing  football  than  rowing,  tak- 
ing the  'varsity,  the  college  eights,  and  torpids  into  con- 
sideration. It  is  true  that  some  of  the  men  who  row  on 
the  torpids  are  also  on  the  eights,  and  that  the  'varsity  is 
necessarily  recruited  from  the  college  eights  ;  but  that  di- 
minislies  the  total  number  of  individual  contestants  very 
little ;  and,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  same  may  be  said  also 
of  cricket  and  football,  for  of  those  who  play  on  their  col- 
lege elevens  and  fifteens  a  certain  percentage  are  chosen 
for  the  'varsity  teams.  Nor  do  I  hesitate  in  my  statement 
as  touching  the  drawing  power  of  boating  when  I  consider 
the  Oxford-Cambridge,  Rugby  Union,  and  Association  foot- 
ball matches  played  at  Queen's  in  London,  or  the  cricket 
match  decided  at  Lords.  Of  the  two,  cricket  draws  by 
far  the  greater  numbers,  and,  as  I  have  said  in  an  earlier 
chapter,  certainly  attracts  a  larger  proportion  of  fashion 
than  football  (which  we,  with  our  Springfield  and  Thanks- 
giving-day games,  can  hardly  understand) ;  but  neither  of 
them,  nor  even  both  together,  furnish  the  great  mass  of 
spectators  that  on  the  day  of  the  Oxford-Cambridge  boat- 
race  blacken  the  banks  of  the  Thames,  and  the  Putney, 
Hammersmith,  and  Barnes  bridges  which  span  the  course 
from  Putney  to  Mortlake.  AYhile  the  difference  in  attend- 
ance is  not  so  greatly  in  favor  of  rowing  at  the  college  re- 
gattas at  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  the  banks  of  the  Isis  and 
the  Cam  during  the  torpid  races  in  February  and  the 
eights'  week  in  May — to  say  nothing  of  the  other  innumer- 
able racing  events  throughout  the  year,  ending  with  the 
trial  eights  in  December,  from  which  the  'varsity  candi- 


ROWING— AT  OXFORD  AND   CAMBRIDGE  131 

dates  are  chosen  —  are  lined  with  a  host  of  spectators, 
largely  in  excess  of  the  number  to  be  found  at  the  cor- 
responding purely  college  matches  at  cricket  and  football. 

The  boating  spirit  is  keen  indeed,  and  the  strongest 
part  of  it,  to  my  Avay  of  thinking,  is  its  interest  for  every 
undergraduate  in  the  university.  It  is  a  non-athletic  man 
indeed  (of  whom  there  are  extremely  few)  who  does  not 
take  the  liveliest  concern  in  his  college  torpids  or  eights, 
or  in  some  one  of  the  numerous  aquatic  events  that  are 
going  on  throughout  the  season.  Nor  is  his  interest 
merely  a  perfunctory  one ;  it  may  not  be  so  vigorously 
exploited  as  that  to  which  we  are  accustomed  at  our  foot- 
ball and  baseball  games,  but  you  will  find  him  down  on 
the  banks,  and  even,  maybe,  if  he  is  particularly  keen, 
running  with  his  college  boat. 

It  is  unquestionably  this  especial  spirit  that  has  done 
more  than  anything  else  to  raise  the  standard  of  English 
university  rowing  skill  to  its  present  plane,  and  it  is  one 
of  the  best  lessons  we  in  America  can  learn. 

I  deny  that  the  English  undergraduate  is  as  much  more 
athletic  in  his  tendencies  than  the  American  undergrad- 
uate as  the  greater  number  of  rowing -men  at  Oxford 
and  Cambridge  and  the  keener  rowing  spirit  would  indi- 
cate. While  it  is  unquestionably  true,  as  I  have  already 
written,  that  the  English  nation,  and  of  course  the  Eng- 
lish university  men,  are  more  generally  inclined  towards 
sport  than  are  we,  yet  the  paucity  in  numbers  of  our 
rowing-men  may  not  be  traced  to  the  want  of  athletic  in- 
clination at  our  universities. 

In  the  matter  of  water  and  of  general  rowing  facilities, 
there  is  no  comparison.  The  Oxford  and  Cambridge 
courses  are  to  those  of  Harvard  and  Yale,  or  any  other 
of  the  iVmerican  university  courses  of  which  I  know  any- 
thing, as  the  (about)  fifty-foot  creek  at  Princeton  is  to  the 


Scale  of  Yards 


sp'         II  ISIS  TAVERN  VJj 

^      r 


Longmans,  Green  &  Co. 
THE    OXFORD    COURSE 

Iffley  to  college  barges,  \}i  mile.     Lashers  to  finish,  1^  mile. 


Charles  River  on  which  Harvard  rows.  The  Isis  at  Ox- 
ford will  average  about  as  wide  as  two  shfeU-lengths.  The 
Cam  at  Cambridge  is  narrower,  so  much  so  that  two 
eights  can  pass  in  safety  only  by  each  paddling  very 
slowly.  There  are  some  parts  of  it  where  they  cannot  do 
even  that.  If,  therefore,  these  English  universities  have 
developed  such  a  healthful  and  far-reaching  rowing  spirit, 
and  turned  out  so  many  crews,  it  is  not  because  they  have 
been  favored  by  exceptional  racing  water.  The  very 
necessity  of  the  bumping  races,  in  vogue  at  both,  bespeaks 
the  difficulties  with  which  they  have  had  to  contend. 
Neither  can  it  be  attributed  to  the  greater  quantity  of 
material.  I  know  it  is  the  popular  American  idea  that 
both  Oxford  and  Cambridge  have  between  4000  and  5000 
students  each,  but  the  facts  are  that  the  former  has  some- 
thing like  2400,  and  the  latter  about  2800.  On  our  side 
Harvard  has  3100  students ;  Yale,  2400 ;  Princeton,  1200  ; 
Pennsylvania,  2500;  Columbia,  1600;  Michigan,  2800; 
Corneil,  1800. 

The  reason  for  this  great  rowing  spirit  at  Oxford  and 
Cambridge  may  be  found  in  the  encouragement  given  the 
undergraduates.  Every  man  is  taken  into  the  confidence 
of  his  university  boating  doings.  He  is  made  to  feel  that 
he  is  part  and  parcel — as  in  very  fact  he  is — of  the  general 


ROWING-AT  OXFORD  AND  CAMBRIDGE 


133 


machinery  that  builds  up  the  'varsity,  and  he  is  given  a 
daily  opportunity  of  watching  the  crew  which  is  to  uphold 
the  aquatic  honor  of  his  alma  mater. 

If  he  have  any  latent  boating  spirit  in  him,  the  natural 
result  is  that  he  will  be  found  a  candidate  for  his  college 
torpids,  or,  if  not  physically  fitted  for  rowing,  on  the 
banks  running  with  them,  or  at  least  on  the  college  barge 
lending  their  efforts  the  encouragement  of  his  presence. 

Each  college  at  Oxford  has  a  barge  moored  to  the  right 
bank  of  the  Isis,  which  is 
dressing-room,  reading- 
room,  and  grand -stand  in 
one,  it  being  taken  to  Hen- 
ley during  the  races  there. 
The  narrower  river  at  Cam- 
bridge does  not  permit  of 
barges. 

Neither  is  the  undergrad- 
uate, nor  indeed  the  sport- 
loving  public  of  England  at 


MTS  BITE  LOCK;; 


Longmans,  Green  &  Co. 


THE    CAMBRIDGE    COURSE 


1^  mile 


134  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

large,  deprived  of  the  opportunity  of  watching  the  'varsity- 
crews  when  they  have  discontinued  training  on  the  college 
courses,  and  gone  to  Putney  for  the  three  weeks  of  final 
preparation  for  their  great  race. 

Bearing  in  mind  the  secretive  methods  of  his  own  'var- 
sity crews  at  New  London,  it  takes  an  American  college 
man  completely  off  his  bearing  to  witness  the  absolute 
indifference  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge  to  either  private  or 
public  supervision  of  their  practice  on  the  Thames. 

Nor  is  it  attempted  in  the  slightest  degree  to  evade  this 
publicity.  On  the  contrary,  the  crews  seem  to  appreciate 
the  general  interest  taken  in  their  work,  and  tacitly  invite 
the  public  to  come  and  enjoy  it.  The  London  daily  news- 
papers publish  the  time  in  which  each  "varsity  rows  the 
course,  and  regularly  print  the  hour  at  which  the  men 
will  go  out  on  the  river,  morning  and  afternoon,  and  in 
consequence  the  banks  are  covered  by  all  kinds  of  inter- 
ested spectators. 

Still  further,  this  same  feeling  is  carried  into  the  very 
life  of  the  oarsmen.  The  crews  mingle  at  Putney  in  a 
thoroughly  delightful  manner,  exchanging  social  ameni- 
ties at  quarters,  and  on  occasion  following  one  another 
about  the  river  in  the  coaching  launch.  There  are  no 
spying  substitutes  sent  out  to  return  with  tales  that  nei- 
ther demoralize  the  form  of  the  watched  nor  improve 
that  of  the  watcher ;  no  stationing  of  "  heelers  "  along  the 
banks  to  catch  the  time  of  the  rival  eight ;  no  subterfuges 
of  any  kind  to  trick  the  opponent  or  mystify  alumni. 

This  year — and  it  is  not  the  first  time  on  record,  I  am 
told — Mr.  R.  C.  Lehmann,  although  a  Cambridge  oars- 
man, joined  Mr.  D.  H.  McLean,  who  rowed  his  four  years 
on  the  Oxford  'varsity,  in  coaching  the  Oxford  crew. 
Probably  it  will  give  a  clearer  conception  to  the  Ameri- 
can college  man  of  just  how  the  reverse  of  secretive  is  the 


ROWING— AT  OXFOllD  AND  CAMBRIDGE 


135 


boating  atmosphere  at  Oxford  and  Cambridge  to  say  that, 
througli  the  courtesy  of  Messrs.  McLean  and  Lehmann, 
the  Harper  s  \yEEKLY  photographer  was  without  hesi- 
tation permitted  to  take  a  view  of  the  Oxford  shell  in 
which  their  crew  defeated  Cambridge  last  year  and  this. 
It  was  photographed  to  show  the  arrangement  of  seats, 
which  differ  from  ours  in  being  placed  at  the  sides  of  the 


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MR.  LEHMANX    COACHING    OXFORD    FROM    HORSEBACK 


boat,  instead  of  one  behind  another,  as  is  the  case  with 
us.  The  Oxford  and  Cambridge  boat-houses  on  the 
Thames  stand  side  by  side,  and  for  all  one  sees  to  the  con- 
trary they  might  be  the  crews  of  a  single  university  pre- 
paring to  meet  a  common  rival.  It  is  certainly  a  most 
pleasing  picture  of  the  true  spirit  of  sportmanship. 

Surely  no  one  will  say,  who  is  at  all  conversant  with. 


136  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

university  rowing,  that  this  spirit  has  militated  one  iota 
against  their  form  or  the  English  university  record  table. 

It  is  easy  to  understand  after  visiting  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge how  such  a  rowing  spirit  is  bred  in  the  undergradu- 
ate, and  why  at  the  English  universities  so  large  a  propor- 
tion of  the  student  body  is  actively  engaged  in  boating. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  point  out  to  American  college 
men  the  dissimilar  methods  in  vogue  with  us,  where  the 
candidates  for  class  crews  and  the  'varsity  almost  steal 
away  to  their  work,  wellnigh  unannounced,  and  certain- 
ly unattended.  We  all  know  that,  with  the  exception 
of  the  Freshmen,  the  class  crews  receive  but  indifferent 
coaching  and  a  paltry  amount  of  encouragement  from 
the  undergraduate  body  through  their  long  period  of 
training.  It  is  true  that  of  late  years  the  Freshmen 
have  received  much  better  coaching  than  previously,  and 
that  their  practice  creates  more  general  interest,  which 
is  good,  and  due  entirely,  of  course,  to  the  annual  in- 
ter-university Freshmen  races  at  New  London,  but  the 
actual  number  of  those  that  follow  their  work  to  the 
day  of  the  race  is,  still,  none  the  less  small ;  no  smaller, 
however,  than  the  number  of  undergraduates  who  watch 
the  work  of  the  'varsity  day  by  day.  While  the  crew 
candidates  are  in  the  tank  the  limited  vantage-ground 
for  observation  gives  good  reason  for  a  small  attend- 
ance of  student  spectators,  which  does  not  account  for 
the  fact  that  when  the  'varsity  has  begun  work  on  the 
river,  practically  none  but  the  coaches  follow  it.  Some- 
times, possibly,  occasional  enthusiasts  will  stroll  along  the 
banks  and  endeavor  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  crew,  but 
they  are  few  and  scattered.  It  is  true,  to  be  sure,  that 
at  Harvard,  Yale,  Cornell,  and  Penns3dvania  the  row- 
ing courses  do  not  offer  the  same  facilities  for  the  un- 
der<T:raduates  to  follow  as  the  narrow  rivers  at  Oxford 


RO\VING-AT  OXFORD  AND  CAMBRIDGE 


137 


and  Cambridge;  but  the  difference  is  that  the  English 
university  crews  could  get  away  from  the  students  and 
do  not,  while  the  American  college  crews  can  get  away 
and  do.  The  more  complete  explanation  is  to  be  found 
in  the  unfortunate  fact  that  not  only  does  the  university 
boat  club  fail  to  invite  their  attendance,  but  puts  itself 
distinctly  on  record  as  not  wishing  it. 


OXFORD    EIGHT-OARED    BOAT INTERIOR    VIEW,  LOOKING    FORWARD, 

SHOWING    POSITIONS    OF   SEATS    AND    FIXED    ROWLOCKS 

The  shell  is  cedar,  61  ft.  10  in.  long;  23  in.  wide;  depth— amidships,  9  in. ; 
forward,  63^  in. ;  aft,  5X  >n.  Fitted  with  24-inch  slides,  stopped  to  15  in. 
Oars,  12  ft.  5  in.  long,  with  3  ft.  9  in.  leverage. 


138  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

That  the  undergraduates  and  that  university  men  gen- 
erally would  be  more  than  pleased  to  follow  the  work  of 
the  crews  throughout  their  training  season  is  evidenced 
beyond  question  by  their  tremendous  outpouring  on  the 
day  of  the  annual  race  at  New  London. 

It  is  a  twofold  folly  of  us  to  ignore  undergraduate  inter- 
est in  the  'varsity  crew.  I  am  sure  it  is  answerable  for 
the  pronounced  lack  of  rowing  spirit  in  our  American  uni- 
versities. The  shiftless  excuse  that  the  'varsity  does  not 
wish  its  form  "given  away  "  to  the  undergraduate  is  both 
absurd  and  harmful.  If  the  undergraduate  were  capable 
of  criticising,  it  ought  to  be  reg-arded  as  an  encouraging* 
sign  of  a  growing  boating  spirit ;  but  unfortunately  the 
average  student  of  the  present  day  is  hardly  up  to  it. 
Glaring  faults  he  may  detect,  but  scarcely  any  others  that 
would  not  be  immediately  apparent  to  the  veriest  lands- 
man. 

What  we  need  in  American  universities  is  greater  in- 
terest in  and  more  attention  given  our  class  crews,  and 
the  undergraduate  encouraged  to  watch  the  'varsity  as 
often  and  in  as  large  numbers  as  he  likes. 

I  have  always  been  of  the  opinion— and  now,  after  my 
studies  of  English  university  systems  and  observation  of 
their  excellent  results,  I  am  convinced — that  the  secretive 
methods  which  prevail  in  the  management  of  our  univer- 
sity crews,  and  our  tendency  to  make  big  gates  at  foot- 
ball and  baseball  games,  are  two  of  the  most  reprehensi- 
ble and  menacing  features  of  American  university  sport. 

The  English  boating  year  begins  in  October  with  the 
practice  of  the  preliminary  college  crews  and  'varsity 
trials,  and  continues,  with  only  short  intermissions  at 
Christmas  and  Easter,  straight  through  to  the'  summer 
eights.  In  February  the  torpid  races  are  held.  In  May 
the  college  eights  contest  for  "  position "  on  the  river. 


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In  midsummer  there  are  singles,  pairs,  fours,  and  scratch 
matches  without  number,  to  say  nothing  of  canoe,  punt, 
sail-boat,  and  tub  races,  and  various  other  aquatic  sports, 
including  the  Naumachia,  a  mimic  sea-battle  which  is  ex- 
ceedingly mirth-provoking  for  spectators,  and  furnishes  a 
great  deal  of  fun  to  men  in  tubs  and  clinkers. 

The  torpids  (called  Lents  at  Cambridge,  because  coming 
in  that  term)  correspond  to  our  Freshmen  crews  only  so 
much  as  it  is  the  first  boat  in  which  the  university  oars- 
man makes  his  debut,  from  which,  if  he  proves  himself 
worthy,  he  develops  into  a  candidate  for  his  college  eight. 

Strictly  speaking,  there  are  no  crews  at  Oxford  or  Cam- 
bridge that  exactly  resemble  our  Freshmen  eights.  There 
is  no  division  of  classes  at  English  universities  as  with  us ; 
first-year  men  are  called  Freshmen,  but  thereafter  are  al- 
luded to  as  second  or  third  year  men,  though  sometimes 
spoken  of  in  the  second  year  as  Seniors,  and  Very  Seniors 


140 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


in  the  third  year.  Moreover,  torpids  are  not  restricted  to 
first-year  men ;  they  are  simply  the  first — the  awkward 
squad,  so  to  speak — of  the  series  of  races  at  Oxford  and 
Cambridge,  and  may  be  composed  of  men  of  any  stand- 
ing. 

Each  college  is  allowed  to  put  on  as  many  torpid  eights 
as  it  likes — at  least,  there  is  no  rule  limiting  the  number 
— though  only  B.  N.  C,  Christ  Church,  and  one  or  two 
others  have  ever  had  as  many  as  three  torpids  on  in  the 
same  year.  They  have  usually  been  divided  into  two 
divisions  for  their  races,  but  this  year  there  were  so  many 
second  torpids  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  add  a  third 
division.  The  boats  are  clinker-built,  with  fixed  seats,  and 
these  and  all  others  used  in  bumping  races  have  a  rubber 
ball  about  two  inches  in  diameter  fixed  on  the  extreme 

point  of  the  bow,  to 
May,  1893  POSITION  AT  provide  against  possi- 
bility of  injury  to  the 
cockswain  when  the 
bump  is  made. 

The  story  of  the 
bumping  race  is  so 
picturesquely  told  by 
Eichard  Harding  Da- 
vis in  Our  English 
Cousins  that  I  shall 
not  supplement  his 
spirited  pen-picture 
by  any  halting  tale  of 
mine,  but  confine  my- 
self rather  to  the  tech- 
nical side,  and  advise 
a  careful  study  of  the 
accompanying   chart, 


POSITION  AT 
BEGINNING. 

1.  MAGDALEN. 

2.  NEW. 

3.  BRA8EN0SE. 

4.  OH,  CH. 
J.  BALLIOL. 

6.  8T.  JOHN'S. 

7.  PEMBROKE. 

8.  KEBLE. 

9.  QUEEN'S; 

10.  HERTFORD. 

11.  EXETER. 

1?.  UNIVERSITY. 
13.  TRINITY. 
U.  MEATON. 

15.  WADHAM. 

16.  LINCOLN. 

17.  WORCESTER. 

18.  CORPUS. 

19.  ST.  CATHARINE'S. 

20.  ORIEL. 

21.  ST.  EDMUND  HALL. 

22.  «8US. 

23.  ST.  MARY  HALL. 


16,  19,  20,  22,  23,  24. 


/  This  denotes  that  the  boat  makes  a  bump 

\  That  it  is  bumped  —  That  it  keeps  its  place 

Published  by  Hill  (t  Saunders 


ROWING— AT  OXFORD  AND  CAMBRIDGE        141 

which  shows  the  position  of  the  college  eights  at  the  be- 
ginning of  their  races,  May,  1893,  and  at  the  finish.  The 
system  applies  equally  to  eights'  and  to  torpids'  racing. 

Taking  this  chart,  then,  as  a  guide,  and  assuming  the 
boats  to  be  at  the  starting-posts  awaiting  the  signal-gun, 
]S"o.  1  would  be  nearest  the  finishing-line,  about  one  mile 
away,  and  No.  23  would  be  at  the  extreme  end,  the  far- 
thest from  the  finishing-line,  which  would  be  about  1|- 
mile.  The  boats  are  placed  about  130  feet  apart,  and 
held  in  position  by  men  on  the  bank  with  long  poles,  and 
to  whom  the  cockswain  gives  aid  by  holding  to  a  rope 
which  is  attached  to  the  bank  and  known  as  the  "  bung," 
from  its  having  a  bit  of  wood  at  the  end  that  floats  it 
when  cast  off.  The  boats  are  started  simultaneously  on 
gun  signal,  and  are  instantly  off,  each  trying  to  catch 
and  bump  the  one  in  front  of  it,  and  when  successful  both 
stop  rowing  and  pull  into  the  side  of  the  bank  to  give  the 
others  steerageway.  Take  Nos.  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  by  way  of 
example :  If  No.  3  bumped  No.  2,  then  in  the  next  day's 
rowing  No.  3  would  be  2d,  and  No.  2  would  have  dropped 
down  one  place.  If  in  the  next  day  No.  4  bumped  No.  3, 
then  No.  3  would  have  gone  down  another  place.  The 
racing  is  continued  for  a  week,  and  as  onl}^  one  place  can 
be  gained  in  a  day,  it  is  easily  seen  that  the  progression 
towards  the  head  of  the  river  is  rather  slow,  even  if  a 
bump  is  made  at  every  opportunity.  Wliere  there  are  di- 
visions a  sandwich  boat  always  exists  ;  that  is,  suppose  1, 
2,  3,  4,  5  constituted  one  division,  and  7,  8,  9,  10  a  second. 
That  would  leave  No.  6  the  sandwich  boat,  and  in  the 
unfortunate  position  of  having  to  row  oftener  than  the 
others,  for  it  must  not  only  race  at  the  bottom  of  the  first 
division,  but  at  the  head  of  the  second,  and  stay  there 
until  it  bumps  the  last  boat  in  the  first  division,  when  it 
assumes  that  place,  and  that  which  was  the  last  boat  of 


142  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

the  first  division  becomes  the  sandwich  boat,  where  it 
sticl^'S  until  it  regains  the  lost  place  or  is  bumped  by  the 
first  boat  in  the  second  division,  when  it  gets  out  of  the 
sandwich,  but  goes  down  a  place. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  add  that  the  first  division  of  the 
torpids  stands  higher  than  the  second,  and  consists  of  the 
boats  that  have,  in  the  previous  year's  racing,  gained  the 
highest  places  on  the  river.  The  first  and  second  torpids 
of  any  particular  college  correspond,  perhaps,  to  our  first 
and  second  Freshmen  crews,  but  with  the  differences  I 
have  explained. 

The  form  of  the  torpids,  as  might  be  expected,  is  not 
very  good,  but  this  year  ('9i)  it  was  said  to  have  been  be- 
low the  average. 

The  coaching  devolves  upon  the  captain  or  some  mem- 
ber of  their  college  eight,  and  their  training  amounts  to 
very  little.  There  is  no  pretence  at  gymnasium -work ; 
indeed,  I  may  say  none  is  done  by  any  of  the  English 
university  oarsmen,  neither  university  owning  a  gymna- 
sium, though  each  has  the  use  of  rather  ancient  affairs. 
Ko  gymnasium-work  is  done  because,  primarily,  it  is  not 
believed  ip,  and  the  climate  permits  of  out-door  exercise 
all  the  year  round.  They  believe  the  best  way  of  learn- 
ing how  to  row  and  developing  the  muscles  and  lungs 
needed  for  rowing  is  by  putting  candidates  into  boats  on 
the  water,  and  thus  while  our  oarsmen  are  snowed  up, 
and  obliged  to  resort  to  pulley  -  weights  and  tanks,  the 
English  college  man  is  acquiring  form  on  the  river — 
better,  of  course,  than  all  the  pulleys  ever  manufactured. 
There  is  very  little  in-door  work  of  any  description  ex- 
cept at  racquets  and  fives  at  either  Oxford  or  Cambridge, 
and  only  desultory  attempts  at  fencing,  boxing,  and  single- 
stick, and  no  wrestling.  Nor  is  there  any  regular  routine 
of  exercise  aside  from  work  on  the  river,  except  running, 


ROWING— AT   OXFORD  AND  CAMBRIDGE  145 

when  the  condition  of  the  men  requires  it.  They  have 
no  training-table,  and,  as  I  have  said  in  another  chapter, 
there  is  no  trainer  either  for  crews  or  teams  in  an  Eng- 
lish university.  Training  is  understood  to  be  simple  and 
wholesome  diet,  regular  habits,  and,  of  course,  practice, 
though  there  is  none  of  the  hard,  continuous  work  that  is 
enforced  upon  our  crews  and  athletic  teams.  Whether 
breakfasting  and  dining  in  their  own  rooms  or  on  invita- 
tion, the  crew-men  are  restricted  to  training  diet,  while 
their  luncheon  (which  may  be  eaten  anywhere)  must  be 
taken  at  a  fixed  hour,  confined  to  cold  meat,  a  glass  of 
water  or  beer,  bread,  and  a  simple  pudding  or  jelly.  Ex- 
tremest  punctuality  is  observed  in  hours  of  rising,  eating, 
and  retiring. 

When  in  training  it  is  customary  for  them  to  breakfast 
together  as  guests  of  some  member  of  the  crew  or  of  their 
particular  college,  and  to  dine  together  at  their  own  ex- 
pense, and  every  man  who  rows  joins  the  University  Boat 
Club,  and  pays  £3  10s.  ($17.50)  initiation  fee. 

Although  interest  in  the  torpids  and  their  races  is  great, 
that  which  is  evinced  in  the  practice  of  the  eights  (called 
Mays  at  Cambridge,  because  coming  in  that  term)  and  in 
their  regatta  in  May  is  naturally  much  keener,  because, 
as  representatives  of  their  colleges,  they  race  for  suprem- 
ac}'  on  the  river,  and  "  eights  week "  is  the  most  attract- 
ive one  of  the  season  at  either  of  the  universities. 

There  is  very  little  more  training ;  like  the  torpids,  they 
are  invited  out  to  breakfast  by  the  different  men  of  the 
college  or  the  crew,  and  at  times,  when  the  interest  is  very 
keen,  they  are  even-  dined. 

At  the  proper  time  a  paper  is  posted  at  the  porter's 
lodge  of  each  college  for  the  names  of  those  who  wish  to 
subscribe  themselves  as  hosts,  and  it  is  another  instance 
of  the  boating  spirit  to  say  that  the  list  includes  prac- 


146  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

tically  every  member  of  the  college  who  can  afford  the 
entertainment. 

They  are  coached  by  an  old  'varsity  oar  who  happens  to 
be  a  member  of  their  college,  or,  in  the  event  of  none  be- 
ing available,  by  a  'varsity  oar  of  some  other  college,  and 
during  the  eights'  practice  season  the  tow-paths  along 
both  the  Isis  and  the  Cam  are  filled  with  coaches  on 
horseback,  and  I  have  seen  one  on  a  bicycle.  A  'v^arsity 
coach  at  an  English  university,  until  he  goes  up  with  the 
crew  to  Putney,  where  the  final  touches  are  given,  does 
not  have  the  luxury  of  a  steam-launch.  The  bumping 
races  of  the  eights  are  conducted  on  the  same  system  as 
those  of  the  torpids,  the  only  difference  being  that  they 
are  started  160  feet  apart  instead  of  130  feet,  and  that 
they  use  regulation  racing-shells. 

Of  the  races  in  midsummer,  that  include  the  singles, 
pair  oars,  scratch  eights,  etc.,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say 
that  some  extremely  good  rowing  is  to  be  seen,  and  that 
they  are  thorough  sporting  events.  The  colleges  hold 
closed  regattas  of  scratch  events,  for  which  there  is  no  pre- 
vious training,  and  for  crews  that  are  not  chosen  until  the 
day  of  racing.  The  strokes  are  appointed  by  the  college 
captain,  but  the  balance  of  the  crews  are  drawn  from  a 
hat  into  which  the  names  of  all  entries  are  placed.  Thus 
a  scratch  of  four  may  be  made  up  from  as  many  different 
colleges  as  there  are  oars  in  the  boat,  while  a  pair  may 
have,  for  instance,  one  Brasenose  man  and  the  other  from 
Balliol. 

The  most  important  event  of  the  year,  so  far  as  touch- 
ing university  representation,  is  the  trial  eights,  which 
takes  place  the  first  week  in  December.  During  the  rac- 
ing of  the  torpids  the  captain  of  each  college  eight  has 
his  eyes  open  for  suitable  candidates,  and  in  "eights 
week"  the  president  of  the  University  Boat  Club  and 


OXFORD  TAKING  OUT  BOAT 


tlie  coaches  are  looking  for  likely  material  for  the  'varsity 
crew.  After  the  summer  regattas  sixteen  of  the  best 
men  are  chosen  and  made  into  two  crews,  and  these  race 
to  decide  which  shall  be  picked  as  the  nucleus  of  the 
'varsity  boat,  the  substitute  or  substitutes  being  chosen 
( though  not  necessarily )  from  the  unsuccessful  eight. 
The  Cambridge  trials  are  rowed  over  the  Adelaide  course 
at  Ely,  on  the  Ouse,  about  three  miles  against  a  slow 
stream.  The  Oxford  trials  race  with  the  stream  about 
two  miles,  at  Moulsford- on -Thames.  The  former  take 
about  nineteen  minutes,  and  the  latter  little  over  ten, 
and  both  row  in  heavy -built  clinker  boats  on  sliding 
seats.  From  this  time  the  'varsity  crew  may  be  consid- 
ered as  being  in  existence,  though  it  does  not  begin  work 
before  January  10th,  nor  go  into  serious  training  until 
about  six  weeks  preceding  the  inter-university  race  on 
the  Thames. 

Once  they  have  gone  into  training  their  regular  coach- 
ing begins,  and  they  breakfast  and  dine  together  every 


148  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

day  on  the  invitation  and  at  the  expense  of  one  member 
of  the  crew,  each  in  his  turn,  which  continues  until  they 
go  down  to  Putney,  where  they  hve  in  quarters,  and  have 
a  regular  training-table  at  the  expense  of  the  University 
Boat  Club. 

The  manner  of  electing  the  'varsity  crew  president 
(captain)  differs  at  the  two  universities.  At  Oxford  the 
captains  of  the  college  crews  only  are  the  electors,  each 
college  of  the  university  thereby  having  but  one  vote.  At 
Cambridge  the  captains  of  all  the  college  crews — i.e.,  tor- 
pids and  eights — form  the  electing  committee.  Thus  one 
college  may  have  more  votes  than  another,  and  old  Cam- 
bridge men  have  questioned  the  advisability  of  a  system 
that  permits  the  representation  of  Trinity  (which  has  four 
times  as  many  undergraduates  as  any  other  college  at 
Cambridge),  while  more  promising  material  in  other  and 
smaller  colleges  is  ignored.  The  Cambridge  boat,  in  fact, 
seems  to  stand  in  need  of  more  unity  and  less  Trinity. 

It  may  readily  be  seen  from  what  I  have  written  that 
neither  Oxford  nor  Cambridge  experiences  anything  like 
the  difficulty  of  Harvard  and  Yale  in  turning  out  a  'varsity 
boat.  Keally  there  is  no  comparison  whatsoever  in  the 
making  up  of  eights  at  the  English  and  American  univer- 
sities, since  oarsmen  come  to  their  coaches  ready-made, 
while  we  are  obliged  to  build  a  new  crew  and  develop 
untried  men  nearly  every  year.  Only  in  the  event  of 
men  making  the  'varsity  in  their  second  or  third  college 
year  do  we  get  veteran  material.  Nevertheless,  while 
our  difficulty  is  infinitely  greater,  it  could  be  much  sim- 
plified if  we  patterned  after  the  Englishmen  in  building 
up  a  boating  spirit — creating  more  interest  and  rivalry 
in  class  crews,  and  not  shutting  out  the  undergraduate 
from  all  chance  of  keeping  in  touch  with  the  'varsity. 

Of  the  form  of  Oxford  —  and  I  particularize  because 


ROWING— AT  OXFORD  AND  CAMBRIDGE        151 

certainly  this  year  its  crew  rowed  better  than  that  of 
Cambridge  —  I  should  say  that  the  first  impression  made 
is  of  its  power  and  pace-making  quality,  although  I  could 
not  discover  that  they  covered  their  "•  spaces  "  more  than 
Ave  do.  The  men  get  a  tremendous  reach,  their  leg-work 
is  a  very  strong  feature,  they  get  their  backs  into  the 
stroke  more  than  any  crew  I  have  ever  seen,  swing  well 
back,  farther  than  does  Yale,  bring  their  hands  well  in 
and  several  inches  higher  on  the  chest  than  we  do,  get 
away  quickly,  and  do  not  hang  an  instant  on  the  catch. 
Their  recover  is  easy,  but  the  time  of  slide  is  uniform, 
whereas  the  well-known  Yale  recover  starts  like  light- 
ning and  slows  down  just  on  the  catch ;  consequently,  I 
noticed  that  the  Oxford  boat,  although  travelling  very 
smoothly,  kicked  astern  more  than  the  Yale  shell. 

Oxford,  sliding  up  to  within  about  1^  inches  of  the  row- 
lock, gets  a  stroke  of  about  10^  feet,  and  does  the  major 
portion  of  work  before  the  pin,  well  backed  up  by  a 
steady  (not  a  jerky)  drive  with  the  legs ;  the  power  is  put 
on  immediately  the  oars  enter  the  water,  and  is  kept  on  to 
the  end.  Yale  slides  about  3  inches  astern  of  the  row^- 
lock,  and  gets  a  stroke  of  about  8|-  to  9  feet ;  their  leg- work 
is  good,  but  does  not  give  the  idea  of  such  continuous 
power ;  their  recover  seems  to  me  smoother  and  better  for 
the  pace  of  the  shell  than  Oxford's.  In  blade-work  and 
general  watermanship  Oxford  is  unexcelled.  Their  body- 
work, however,  impresses  one  accustomed  to  watching 
Yale  eights  as  being  poor;  there  is  a  screwing  of  bodies 
that  gives  the  crew  an  awkward,  unfinished  appearance, 
increased  undoubtedly  by  the  position  of  the  seats,  and 
I  was  somewhat  surprised  in  following  directly  astern  to 
note  that,  even  in  rough  water,  the  boat  travelled  on  a 
remarkably  even  keel.  If  they  rowed  in  a  shell  such  as 
ours — i.e.,  with  the  seats  directly  back  one  of  the  other, 


152  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

longer  outriggers,  and  swivel  rowlocks— I  am  of  the  opin- 
ion they  would  find  it  impossible,  with  the  present  com- 
parative indifference  to  the  body,  to  keep  the  boat  on  so 
even  a  keel  as  they  do  with  their  present  style  of  seats, 
their  shorter  outriggers,  and  fixed  rowlocks.  If  the  men 
in  a  Yale  boat  worked  their  bodies  in  a  similar  manner  to 
what  I  saw  in  England,  they  would  not  get  on  much  pace. 
The  Englishmen  sit  higher  in  their  shell  than  we  do,  and 
the  boat  is  invariably  cedar,  built  on  a  different  plan  from 
that  followed  by  our  builders.  We  construct  the  frame 
first  and  build  over  it,  whereas  the  Englishmen  make  the 
cedar  shell  in  sections  on  moulds,  and  fit  the  framework  in 
afterwards.  The  result  is  that  tliey  turn  out  a  boat  that 
is  absolutely  smooth  on  its  bottom,  while  in  an  American- 
built  boat  you  can  cast  your  eye  along  the  keel  and  see 
the  ribs  at  regular  intervals ;  but  the  latter  is  lighter,  and 
one  made  this  year  for  Harvard  by  Davy  was  used  in 
preference  to  an  imported  Rough. 

While  I  was  at  Putney  last  March  ('94)  I  timed  the  Ox- 
ford eight — 8  minutes  31^  seconds  for  2  miles  and  250 
yards,  at  a  stroke  averaging  34  to  36  a  minute,  and  with 
a  strong  tide  and  wind  in  their  favor;  21  minutes  and 
49  seconds  over  the  course  of  4^  miles,  Avith  a  fair  tide, 
rather  roughish  water,  and  no  wind  in  their  favor,  row- 
ing from  32  to  36  strokes ;  and  2  miles  and  4  furlongs  in 
12  minutes  and  32  seconds  in  rough  water.  The  number 
of  strokes  to  the  minute  in  practice  ranges,  as  with  us, 
from  32  to  36,  which  in  racing  is  raised,  as  occasion  re- 
quires, from  34  to  37-8.  A  40-to-the-minute  stroke  has 
yet  to  make  its  appearance  in  English  universit}'^  rowing, 
except  for  racing  starts.  AVhether  their  form  or  ours  puts 
the  greater  pace  on  the  boat  can  only  be  decided,  however, 
by  a  race,  which  we  should  have  had  this  September  on  tlie 
Thames,  from  Putney  to  Mortlake,  if  Harvard  and  Yale 


THE    BARRIEEi    AT    PUTNEY    BRIDGE 

To  keep  clear  the  Oxford-Cambridge  Course 


had  acted  on  Oxford's  suggestion,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1894:  sent  a  joint  challenge  pending  the  result  of  the  New 
London  race,  June  28th. 

Which  reminds  me,  by-the-bye :  1  learned  in  England 
that  the  man  who  masqueraded  in  New  York  during  the 
winter  of  '92-'93  as  a  brother  of  Mr.  Guy  Nickalls,  the 
famous  Oxford  sculler,  and  as  a  representative  of  the  Ox- 
ford Boat  Club,  was  an  impostor,  and  his  statement  that 
the  English  crew  would  come  to  America  and  row  us  pro- 
vided we  paid  its  expenses  pure  fiction.  The  English 
university  man  is  too  good  a  sportsman  to  even  dream  of 
such  a  proposition.  His  crew  will  pay  its  own  way  when 
it  comes  to  America — which  will  probably  never  be  until 
we  have  rowed  it  on  the  Thames— and  it  will  give  ours  a 
royal  welcome  when  it  goes  to  England. 

The  Oxford-Cambridge  race  is  the  most  important  and 
popular  event  of  the  English  boating  year,  but  it  is  entire- 
ly lacking  in  the  gay  and  picturesque  setting  of  our  own 
Harvard -Yale  race.  The  location  of  the  English  course 
does  not  furnish  the  scenic  effects  or  provide  the  oppor- 


154 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


tunities  for  gala  accompaniment  that  the  American  course 
does.  New  London  is  two  and  a  half  hours  from  New 
York  and  Boston  by  the  fastest  trains,  a  favored  yachting^ 
rendezvous,  and  an  altogether  charming  resort;  Putney,  on 
the  other  hand,  is  a  district  of  London,  not  over  six  miles 
from  Charing  Cross,  and  the  great  mass  of  people  which 
throng  the  banks  of  the  Thames  and  fill  the  bridges  that 
span  it  come  and  go  within  two  hours.  There  is  no  ob- 
servation train  decorated  in  college  colors  to  follow  the 
race  from  start  to  finish,  filled  with  cheering  partisans  of 
the  rival  crews;  no  steamboats  that,  loaded  to  the  gun- 
wale with  enthusiastic  spectators,  anchor  along  the  course ; 
no  yachts  covered  from  stem  to  stern  with  fluttering  bunt- 
ing, to  make  a  highly  colored  lane  for  the  last  half-mile 
of  the  four ;  no  booming  cannon  to  salute  the  victors ;  and 
none  of  the  hotel  life  that  gives  boat-race  week  in  America 
an  enjoyable  social  coloring. 


Longmans,  Green  &  Co. 
COCRSK    OF    OXFORD-CAMBRIDGE    ANNUAL    RACK    FROM    PUTNEY    TO    MORTLAKE 

Putney  to  Hammersmith,  1  mile,  fi  furlongs.    Putney  to  Chiswick,  2  miles,  i  furlongs.    Put- 
ney to  Barnes,  3  miles,  6  furlongs.    Putney  to  Mortlake,  1  miles,  2  furlongs. 


ROWING— AT  OXFORD  AND  CAMBRIDGE        155 

Only  three  boats  are  allowed  on  the  English  Thames 
between  Putney  and  Mortlake  during  the  inter-university 
race  —  the  steam-launch  of  the  umpire,  which  carries  no 
one  but  the  referee,  or  umpire,  as  he  is  called  over  there, 
and  timers;  the  umpire's  boat,  so-called,  which  corresponds 
to  our  judges'  boat,  and  carries  the  coaches  and  a  limited 
number  of  old  'varsity  oars,  and  the  press  boat.  There  is 
no  possibility  of  a  deviation  from  this  arrangement,  as  in 
addition  to  the  thorough  patrolling  of  the  river  by  the 
Thames  Conservancy  police,  it  is  effectually  blocked  be- 
low Putney  Bridge  by  a  line  of  scows  stretched  from 
bank  to  bank,  leaving  one  narrow  and  well-guarded  en- 
trance. 

There  are  many  ways  of  seeing  the  race,  however, 
though  none  that  gives  the  constant  view  afforded  by  our 
observation -train.  The  railway  runs  cars  on  to  Barnes 
Bridge,  which  crosses  the  Thames  at  the  3|^-mile  point  of 
the  course ;  Hammersmith  Bridge  is  at  the  l|-mile,  and  is 
probably  the  best  vantage-ground,  as  it  gives  a  good  view 
for  the  first  two  miles;  and  from  Putney  Bridge  the  crews 
can  be  seen  at  the  start  and  followed  to  Hammersmith. 
Besides  these  the  roofs  of  all  the  taverns  and  business  build- 
ings along  the  course  are  covered  with  seats,  which  are 
sold  at  a  reasonable  figure,  and  command  an  excellent  view 
of  the  race.  The  immense  concourse  of  people  that  turn 
out  to  witness  this  contest  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated. 
I  had  the  good-fortune  to  have  an  invitation  for  the  um- 
pire's boat,  which  follows  directly  astern  of  the  referee's 
launch,  and,  consequently,  a  fine  oj)portunity  of  seeing- 
the  race;  but  looking  back  on  it  now  I  scarcely  know 
which  attracted  me  more — the  struggle  of  the  sixteen  oars- 
men in  front  of  me,  or  the  thousands  of  spectators  that 
literally  blackened  the  banks,  house-tops,  and  bridges, 
through  which  we  steamed  for  four  miles  and  a  quarter. 


156 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


OXFOKD-CAMBEIDGE    EIGHT-OAKED   RACES. 


Year. 

Date. 

Wiuuer. 

Course. 

Time. 

Won  by. 

i8'2;t 

June  10.... 
June  17.. . 

Oxford 

Cambridge. . 

Henlev 

14  m.  30  s. 
36         0 

easily. 
1  m. 

Westminster  to  Putney.. 

issy 

Aprils.... 

Cambridge.. 

Westminster  to  Putney.. 

31 

0 

1  m.  45  s. 

1S40 

April  15... 

Cambridge. . 

Westminster  to  Putney.. 

'29 

}i  length. 

1S41 

AprU14... 

Cambridge.. 

Westminster  to  Putney.. 

32 

30 

1  m.  4  s. 

1842 

June  11 

Oxford 

Westminster  to  Putney.. 

30 

45 

13  s. 

1845 

March  15.. 

Cambridge.. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

23 

30 

30  s. 

1S4G 

Aprils.... 

Cambridge.. 

Mortlake  to  Putney 

21 

5* 

2  lengths. 

1849 

March  29.. 

Cambridge.. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

22 

0 

easily. 

1849 

Dec.  15. .  . . 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

— 

— 

foul. 

1852 

Aprils.... 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

21 

36 

27  s. 

1854 

April  8.... 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

25 

29 

11  strokes. 

1856 

March  15.. 

Cambridge.. 

Mortlake  to  Putney 

25 

50 

M  length. 

1857 

ApriU  ... 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

22 

35t 

35  s. 

1858 

March  27.. 

Cambridge . . 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

21 

23 

22  s. 

1859 

April  15... 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

24 

40 

Camb.  sank. 

1860 

March  81.. 

Cambridge. . 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

26 

5 

1  length. 

1861 

March  23.. 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

23 

30 

48  s. 

186'2 

April  12... 

Oxford 

Putuey  to  Mortlake 

24 

41 

30  s. 

1863 

March  28.. 

Oxford 

Mortlake  to  Putney 

23 

6t 

43  s. 

1864 

March  19. . 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake, 

21 

40 

26  s. 

1865 

April  8.... 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlakfe 

21 

24 

4  lengths. 

1866 

March  24.. 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

25 

35 

15  s. 

1867 

April  13... 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

22 

40 

^  length. 

1868 

ApriU.... 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

20 

56 

6  lengths. 

1869 

March  17.. 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

20 

5 

3  lengths. 

1870 

April  6.... 

Cambridge.. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

22 

4 

IX  length. 

1871 

April  1 

Cambridge.. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

23 

5 

1  length. 

1872 

March  23.. 

Cambridge.. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

21 

15 

2  lengths. 

1873 

March  29.. 

Cambridge. . 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

19 

355 

3H  lengths. 

1874 

March  28.. 

Cambridge.. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

22 

35 

3  lengths. 

1875 

March  20.. 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

22 

2 

10  lengths. 

1876 

Aprils.... 

Cambridge. . 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

20 

20 

easily. 

1877 

March  24  ■[ 
April  13... 

Cambridiret 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

24 

Sll 

dead  heat. 

1878 

Oxford..!.:. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

22 

13 

10  lengths. 

1879 

April  5.... 

Cambridge.. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

21 

IS 

3)4  lengths. 

1880 

March  22. . 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

21 

23 

3}i  lengths. 

1881 

April  8.... 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

21 

51 

3  lengths. 

1882 

April  1.... 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

20 

12 

T  lengths. 

1883 

March  15. . 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

21 

18 

BM  lengths. 

1884 

April  7.... 

Cambridge.. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

21 

39 

2M  lengths. 

1885 

March  28. . 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

21 

36 

2X  lengths. 

18S6 

Aprils  ... 

Cambridge.. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

22 

29 

?3  length. 

1887 

March  26.. 

Cambridge.. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

20 

5211 

2%  lengths. 
7  lengths. 

1888 

March  24. . 

Cambridge. . 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

20 

48 

1889 

March  30.. 

Cambridge.. 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

20 

14 

2M  lengths. 

1890 

March  26.. 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

22 

3 

bare  length. 

1891 

March  21.. 

Oxford 

Putuey  to  Mortlake 

21 

48 

y,  length. 

1892 

April  9.... 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

19 

21 

2M  lengths. 

1893 

March  22.. 

Oxford 

Putney  to  Mortlake 

IS 

47 

1  length,  4  ft. 

1894 

March  17.. 

Oxford 

Putuey  to  Mortlake 

21 

39 

d)4  lengths. 

•  The  first  University  race  rowed  in  outriggers. 

t  Used  keelless  boats  for  the  first  time.        t  From  the  High  Bridge  to  Putney  Pier. 

§  Both  crews  used  sliding  seats  for  the  first  time. 

II  The  Oxford  bowman  damaged  his  oar.        1  No.  7  in  the  Oxford  boat  broke  his  oar. 


Fifty-one  matches  haye  been  rowed— Oxford  winning  28,  Cambridge  22;  one  dead  heat. 

There  is  a  tradition  on  the  other  side  that  the  winning  crew,  once  it  has  the  race  in 
hand,  shall  not  extend  itself— hence  the  distance  separating  the  two  on  the  finish  line  is 
of  small  yalue  as  indicating  the  actual  superiority  of  the  winner  over  the  loser. 


VI 
ROWING 

ON   THE   THAMES 

'No  sport  in  England  is  cleaner  than  boating,  and  none 
older,  for  it  rivals  the  age,  I  dare  say,  of  the  very  Thames, 
whose  troubled,  muddy  bosom  is  the  scene  of  so  much  of 
its  activity.  Having  in  the  preceding  chapter  gone  into 
the  antiquity  of  rowing,  and,  after  considerable  rum- 
maging among  dust-laden  tomes  of  boating-lore  emerged 
with  about  as  much  knowledge  as  when  I  entered  upon 
the  research — to  wit,  that  the  first  date  of  boating  at  the 
public  schools  and  universities  has  not  been  authentically 
determined,  and  that  one  knows  only  that  before  history 
took  up  the  subject,  boating  was — I  shall  curb  my  ambi- 
tion for  further  delving.  We  do  know,  however,  a  little 
more  about  the  early  days  of  rowing  on  the  Thames,  or 
rather  non -collegiate  boating,  since  it  is  a  matter  of  record 
that  the  first  race  instituted  on  that  course  was  founded 
by  Mr.  Doggett,  a  famous  comedian,  who,  in  1715,  offered 
the  trophy  for  watermen,  which,  known  as  the  Doggett 
Coat  and  Badge,  has  been  raced  for  annually  up  to  this 
day,  authentic  records  existing  since  1791.  The  Thames 
waterman,  by-the-way,  is  quite  an  interesting  worthy, 
and  forms  a  rather  picturesque  background  to  boating 
history,  for  in  the  early  university  rowing  days,  as  we  have 
seen,  he  always  sat  in  the  cockswain's  seat,  and  frequently 
pulled  an  oar  in  the  college  boats.     He  is  a  professional, 


158  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

but  an  honest  one,  and,  as  one  of  a  class,  commands  the 
respect  of  all  British  oarsmen.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  if  in- 
terest was  keen  enough  to  provide  a  prize  for  watermen, 
the  general  rowing  spirit  at  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth 
century  must  have  been  spreading  satisfactorily,  a  conclu- 
sion rather  corroborated  by  the  first  Thames  regatta,  held 
in  17Y5,  which  shows  that  there  was  a  great  deal  of  pre- 
vious rowing  to  have  suggested  it.  Further  evidence  of 
its  popularity  may  also  be  had  in  the  histories  that  tell  of 
the  very  considerable  stir  in  boating  circles  along  in  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century,  and  especiallj^  of  West- 
minster and  Eton  public-school  crews  that  attracted  quite 
the  greatest  attention  of  the  then  rowing  season. 

The  first  river  clubs  to  have  left  any  record  are  the 
Star  and  Arrow,  which  were  in  existence  even  so  early 
as  the  last  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  flourished  at 
the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth,  disappearing  somewhere 
along  1820. 

From  one  or  the  other  or  both  of  these  the  Leander 
Club,  founded  in  1825  or  thereabouts,  is  said  to  have 
arisen.  Within  a  few  years  after  its  organization  it  at- 
tained the  distinction  of  being  considered  not  only  the 
first  amateur  boating  club  in  Great  Britain  in  point  of 
birth,  but  in  influence  as  well,  and  grew  to  be  a  sort  of 
consolidating  power,  absorbing  the  best  oarsmen  of  the 
numerous  little  clubs  that  sprang  up  along  the  river„  As 
rapidly,  however,  as  one  lot  of  clubs  dissolved,  only  to 
materialize  again  under  Leander  colors,  another,  notliing 
daunted,  floated  their  insignia  to  the  Thames  breeze,  and 
Avhile  in  no  case  did  they  develop  beyond  a  more  or  less 
indifferent  life,  yet  it  all  went  to  prove  the  boating  spirit 
not  wanting,  and  that  the  rivalry  was  becoming  keen 
even  at  so  early  a  day. 

The  most  important  appearance  of  the  Leander  Club 


It. 


if  1 


TRAINING    QUARTERS    OF    THE    OXFOllI 


during  its  infancy  was  in  '31,  when  tliey  rowed  and  de- 
feated Oxford  with  watermen  steering.  The  fact  that  it 
was  a  match  race  for  £200  is  evidence  that  the  amateur 
definition  of  to-day  did  not  then  obtain.  Nor  was  it 
necessary,  for  the  sport  had  not  yet  attracted  the  ele- 
ments that  are  more  susceptible  to  pounds,  shillings,  and 
pence  than  to  the  Jaurel  wreath.  It  was  shortly  after  this 
race,  however,  that  the  question  of  trophies  was  raised 
and  money  prizes  abolished  as  being  too  tempting  to  the 
"  mug  hunter." 

This  was  the  liveliest  of  the  early  periods  of  boating, 
and  for  a  few  years  the  interest  continued  to  spread  and 
the  sport  to  thrive,  the  Leander,  and  the  small  clubs  that 
were  popping  into  life  and  dropping  out  again,  furnish- 
ing the  centre  of  a  growing  class  of  oarsmen.  Naturally, 
with  this  continual  increase  in  number  of  participants. 


IGO  A   SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

and  the  ensuing  matches,  a  common  meeting,  where  all 
might  enter  and  settle  disputes  on  individual  prowess, 
was  to  be  expected  as  a  certain  sequence.  Thus  it 
came  about  that,  in  1839,  the  Henley  Regatta,  starting 
with  but  one  prize,  the  Grand  Challenge  Cup,  which 
up  to  the  present  day  is  considered  the  most  desirable 
trophy  for  an  eight-oar  crew  to  win,  was  called  into  ex- 
istence. It  was  a  successful  and  popular  institution,  as 
the  speedy  offering  of  other  trophies  argues,  for  the  same 
year  the  Town  Challenge  Cup  was  added  to  the  list ;  two 
years  later  the  Stewards'  Cup ;  in  '44,  the  Diamond 
Sculls ;  in  '45,  the  Ladies'  Challenge  Cup  for  eights ;  in 
'47,  the  Visitors'  Challenge  Cup ;  in  '56,  the  Wyfold 
Challenge  Cup,  both  for  fours ;  followed  by  the  Thames 
Challenge  Cup  for  eights  in  '68,  and  the  Public  Schools' 
Challenge  Cup  for  fours  in  '79. 

IS'otwithstanding  the  auspicious  beginning  of  the  regat- 
ta, however,  and  a  generous  prize  list,  the  unforeseen  influ- 
ence of  an  expanding  trade  filled  the  Thames  with  steam- 
boats, and  from  about  1840  so  lessened  the  popularity  of 
rowing  that  in  the  early  fifties  even  a  scratcli  eight  was 
rarely  seen  on  the  river.  In  those  days  suburban  railway 
facilities  had  not  reached  the  present  standard,  and  clubs 
at  Putney  as  they  are  to-day  were  not  then  a  possibilit}'-. 
The  increased  river  traffic  and  the  churning  steamboats 
made  training  almost  impossible,  so  that  really  the  only 
bit  of  good  water  any  of  the  crews  got  was  at  the  Henley 
Regatta  itself.  Even  Leander  during  this  period  cut  no 
figure  in  the  aquatic  world,  appearing  only  once  or  twice 
at  Henley,  and  absenting  itself  thereafter,  and  it  was  not 
until  along  towards  '56  that  there  were  signs  of  a  revivis- 
cence. 

The  revival  of  rowing  on  the  Thames  may  be  dated 
from  the  birth  of  the  London  Rowing  Club  (1856),  which, 


ROWING— ON   THE  THAMES  161 

on  its  first  appearance  at  Henley,  in  '57,  not  only  won  the 
Grand  Challenge  Cup,  but  sent  a  thrill  of  new  life 
throughout  amateur  boating  that  gave  it  such  an  impetus 
as  has  carried  it  up  to  its  present  popular  pitch. 

No  institution  in  Great  Britain,  indeed,  may  be  said  to 
have  done  so  much  for  English  rowing  as  this  London 
club.  Besides  being  a  powerful  factor  in  competitions, 
and  invariably  turning  out  excellent  crews,  it  had  the 
good  sportsmanship  to  encourage  others,  and  by  its  gen- 
erous aid  and  example  several  clubs  sprang  into  life 
shortly  afterwards,  the  most  important  of  them  being 
the  Thames,  which  exists  to-day  as  one  of  the  three  great 
rowing  clubs  on  the  river.  With  the  coming  of  the 
Thames  Club,  a  new  rival  appeared  to  spur  on  the  eights 
of  Leander  and  London,  all  striving  for  the  honor  of  giv- 
ing the  Oxford  and  Cambridge  'varsities  the  best  practice 
spins  when  they  came  to  Putney  for  their  final  work.  It 
was  all  clean,  honest  rivalry,  and  has  remained  so. 

In  the  meantime  the  boating  spirit  grew  apace. 

Such  a  show  of  boating  life  on  the  Thames  was  certain 
to  bring  a  response  from  the  country,  and  although  mak- 
ing haste  slowly  at  first,  it  was  not  long  before  provincial 
oarsmanship  began  to  be  heard  from,  and  the  movement 
set  in  that  has  in  the  last  twenty  years  placed  it  at  its 
present  excellent  standard.  Clubs  were  formed  wherever 
there  was  a  suitable  course,  regattas  held,  and  keenest 
rivalry  existed  between  the  towns  of  the  same  and  differ- 
ent counties. 

Along  the  Thames  clubs  have  not  multiplied  largely 
since  the  revival  of  river  boating  the  latter  part  of  the 
fifties,  but  the  number  of  oarsmen,  with  the  public  schools 
and  the  universities  as  constant  feeders,  has  greatly  in- 
creased, and  there  has  been  no  drag  in  interest.  Each 
year  has  seen  the  Henley  Kegatta  grow  more  and  more 


162 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


important,  until  it  is  now  regarded  as  unquestionably  the 
most  prominent  amateur  rowing  event  in  the  world. 

With  a  boating  spirit  spreading  to  the  farthermost  cor- 
ners of  the  kingdom,  there  came  a  time,  along  in  the 
seventies,  when  it  was  apparent  that  the  amateur  defini- 
tion stood  in  much  need  of  clarification.  Previous  to  the 
Henley  Regatta  of  '71  an  occasion  for  legislation  had 
never  arisen,  but  the  qualification  as  "  gentlemen  ama- 
teurs" of  one  of  the  crews  entered  that  year  for  the 
Town  Cup  being  questioned,  without  specific  charges,  the 
necessity  of  deciding  just  what  should  constitute  an  ama- 
teur oarsman  became  apparent. 


Lonirmans,  Green  &  Co. 
THE    HENLEY    COURSE SCENE    OF    HENLEY    REGATTA 

1  mile,  550  yards 

Refusing  an  entry  was  a  radical  departure  at  the  time 
of  which  I  am  writing,  and  led  to  much  general  discussion 
among  oarsmen,  although  it  was  not  until  '78  that  a  rep- 
resentative meeting  eventually  went  into  session,  and  a 
committee  composed  of  the  leading  members  of  the  clubs 
and  universities  determined  upon  this  definition : 


"An  amateur  oarsman  or  sculler  may  be  an  officer  of  her  Majesty's 
army  or  navy,  or  civil  service,  a  member  of  the  liberal  professions,  or  of 
the  universities  or  public  schools,  or  of  any  established  boat  or  rowing 
club  not  containing  mechanics  or  professionals ;  and  must  not  have 
competed  in  any  competition  for  cither  a  stake  or  money  or  entrance 


ROWING-ON  THE  THAMES  163 

fee,  or  with  or  against  a  professional  for  any  prize ;  nor  ever  taught, 
pursued,  or  assisted  in  the  pursuit  of  athletic  exercises  of  any  kind  as  a 
means  of  livelihood,  nor  have  ever  been  employed  in  or  about  boats,  or 
in  manual  labor;  nor  be  a  mechanic,  artisan,  or  laborer." 

The  next  year  the  executive  committee  of  tlie  Henley 
Regatta  drew  up  a  set  of  rules  of  their  own,  which, 
worded  differentl}^,  were  practically  the  same ;  and  these 
have  been  changed  slightly,  until  the  following,  that  ob- 
tain to-day,  are  the  result : 

"1.  No  person  shall  be  considered  an  amateur  oarsman,  sculler,  or 
cockswain— 

"A.  Who  has  ever  taken  part  in  any  open  competition  for  a  stake, 
money,  or  entrance  fee. 

"  B.  Who  has  ever  knowingly  competed  with  or  against  a  professional 
for  any  prize. 

"  C.  Who  has  ever  taught,  pursued,  or  assisted  in  the  practice  of  ath- 
letic exercises  of  any  kind  for  profit. 

"  D.  Who  has  ever  been  employed  in  or  about  boats,  or  in  manual  la- 
bor for  money  or  wages. 

"  E.  Who  is  or  has  been  by  trade  or  employment  for  wages  a  mechan- 
ic, artisan,  or  laborer,  or  engaged  in  any  menial  duty." 

These  rules  have  created  much  criticism  now  and  again, 
both  in  England  and  in  the  United  States,  but,  despite 
some  inconsistencies  in  application  as  to  different  trades, 
they  have  beyond  question  proved  the  salvation  of  honest 
amateur  boating  and  the  means  of  keeping  it  the  cleanest 
of  English  sports.  I  have  studied  this  subject  very  care- 
fully on  both  sides  of  the  water,  and  not  only  am  I  of  the 
opinion  that  English  amateur  rowing  would  not  occupy 
the  high  plane  it  does  to-day  were  it  not  for  this  defini- 
tion, but,  strange  as  it  may  sound  to  our  American  ideas 
of  democracy,  I  believe  we  must  adopt  some  very  similar 
ruling  if  we  ever  hope  to  attain  a  correspondingly  high 
standard.  There  is  no  reason  why  we  should  not  have  a 
Henley  in  America ;  but  we  cannot  under  present  rulings. 


164  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

"Why  there  should  be  such  constant  strife  to  bring  to- 
gether in  sport  the  two  divergent  elements  of  society  that 
never  by  any  chance  meet  elsewhere  on  even  terms  is 
quite  incomprehensible,  and  it  is  altogether  the  sole  cause 
of  all  our  athletic  woe.  Unlike  the  quality  of  mercy, 
which  blesses  him  that  gives  and  him  that  receives,  this 
athletic  philanthropy  embarrasses  both.  We  form  associ- 
ations, and  rush  into  them,  nolens  volens,  all  manner  of 
clubs,  composed  of  men  of  all  conditions,  expecting  these, 
whose  education  has  not  been  such  as  to  lead  to  an  aj^- 
preciation,  or  even  an  understanding,  of  the  true  amateur 
definition,  to  at  once  fall  into  the  lines  we  have  laid  down, 
and  forsake  traditions  and  habits  of  a  lifetime — nay,  of 
several  generations  of  lifetimes. 

It  sounds  quite  as  senseless  and  impracticable  as  the 
theory  of  that  other  Utopian  philanthropist  who  fondly 
expects  the  negro,  lifted  suddenly  out  of  generations  of 
bondage,  to  fraternize  and  favorably  compare  with  the 
race  Avhose  individuals  have  always  been  the  refined  and 
cultured  members  of  the  civilized  world. 

Just  so  impossible  is  it  for  the  amateur  athletic  organi- 
zations of  Great  Britain  and  America  to  bring  together 
two  elements  in  sport  that  do  not  harmonize  in  any  other 
walk  of  life. 

Even  in  England  there  has  been  in  recent  years  an 
attempt  by  university  men,  whose  sincerity  cannot  be 
doubted,  even  though  their  wisdom  be  questioned,  to  mix 
oil  and  water  by  the  formation  of  the  National  (so  called) 
Amateur  Rowing  Association,  which  should  admit  all 
men  who  pretended  to  row  for  sport,  be  their  station  in 
life  what  it  may.  But,  sad  to  relate,  their  Christian  ef- 
forts have  been  illy  rewarded  ;  for  on  several  occasions 
these  reclaimed  amateurs  are  said  to  have  sold  challenge 
cups  to  which  they  had  no  title,  and  the  annual  regatta 


ROWING-ON  THE   THAMES 


165 


has  dwindled  to  an  affair  of  small  importance  and  less 
respectability. 

If  this  were  not  lesson  enough  for  those  who  seem  to 
believe  that  athletics,  like  love  (according  to  popular  re- 
port), levels  all  ranks,  the  present  condition  of  track  and 
field  athletics  and  of  football  in  England,  in  all  of  which 
their  pet  doctrine  has  been  exploited,  ought  to  be  con- 
vincing proof  of  the  utter  impossibility  of  keeping  ama- 
teur sport  clean  and  throwing  it  open  to  the  laboring  (so 
called)  classes;   for  we   are  all  laborers  on  this  earth — 


W.  H.  Grove 
TRAINING    QUARTERS    OF    THK    CAMBRIDGE    CRKW    AT    PUTNEY 


166  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

laborers  in  our  chosen  professions  or  trades,  laborers  of  dif- 
ferent degrees  of  culture,  according  to  the  quality  of  re- 
finement into  which  we  are  born  or  subsequently  acquire. 

We  of  America  have  only  in  the  last  five  years  begun 
to  see  this  side  of  sport.  We  saw  the  introduction  of  the 
low  element  damn  boxing;  we  know  that  the  defunct 
Manhattan  Athletic  Club  and  its  hireling  athletes  profes- 
sionalized athletics ;  we  see  every  day  to  what  state  bicy- 
cling has  come ;  rowing  is  not  what  it  should  be ;  and  we 
are  grateful  that  football  has  not  yet  become  so  popular  as 
to  jeopardize  its  present  health  and  respectability.  But 
the  day  is  coming  when  we  shall  have  such  an  element  to 
contend  against  just  as  certainly  as  .it  came  in  England, 
and  we  must  profit  by  the  mistakes  of  the  sportsmen  of 
the  Old  World. 

l^o  one  rejoices  more  than  I  at  evidences  of  the  lower 
classes  turning  their  attention  to  sport.  It  is  a  magnifi- 
cent spectacle,  of  incalculable  value  to  national  manhood, 
and  would  it  applied  to  the  whole  world.  None  is  more 
democratic  than  I.  I  am  more  than  willing  to  help  my 
laboring  brother  of  lesser  refinement ;  to  do  all  I  can  for 
him  in  his  worthy  efforts  to  attain  a  sound  mind  and 
healthful  body ;  give  him  advice,  time,  aid,  and  to  encour- 
age in  every  possible  manner  his  endeavors  to  make  more 
of  a  man  of  himself.  But  I  do  not  care  to  dine  or  play 
football  with  him. 

We  each  of  us  have  our  own  ways  of  doing,  our  own 
ideas  of  the  fitness  of  things,  and  of  the  qualifications  of 
an  amateur.  Let  us  therefore  abide  in  them,  neither  tres- 
passing on  the  prerogatives  of  the  other.  There  is  no 
reason  why,  because  I  prefer  to  use  a  fork,  and  my  labor- 
ing friend  is  predisposed  to  the  knife,  that  we  should  at- 
tempt to  force  our  preferences  one  upon  the  other. 

This  is  a  free  country,  and  life  is  too  short  to  waste 


W.  H.  Grove 
LEANDER    ROWING    CLUB    BOAT-HOUSE    AT    PUTNEY — USED    BY    rAMRRIDfiE 


time  in  fruitless  endeavors.  The  laboring  class  are  all 
right  in  their  way ;  let  them  go  their  way  in  peace,  and 
have  their  athletics  in  whatsoever  manner  best  suits  their 
inclinations.  There  is  no  reason  on  earth  why  they 
should  play  under  our  rules,  or  why  we  should  open  our 
rules  to  admit  of  their  more  liberal  understandings  of 
an  amateur. 

Let  us  have  our  own  sport  among  the  more  refined  ele- 
ments, and  allow  no  discordant  spirits  to  enter  into  it. 
Let  our  best  clubs  hold  meetings  open  to  invitation  en- 
tries only,  and  our  college  men  after  graduation  keep  up 
their  rowing,  as  they  do  in  England,  and  give  us  a  few 
more  crews  like  that  the  New  York  Athletic  Club  had 
two  years  ago,  and  of  the  kind  Detroit  has  always  turned 
out.  Let  us  have  a  definition  somewhat  akin  to  the  Eng- 
lish Amateur  Rowing  Association,  and,  likely  as  not,  in  a 


168  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

few  years  it  may  be  possible  for  us  to  hold  such  a  regatta 
as  they  have  at  Henley,  but  not  until  then. 

So  thoroughly  impressed  has  the  better  English  athletic 
public  become  with  tlie  hopelessness  of  otherwise  reliev- 
ing the  present  condition  that  I  expect  to  see  in  the  next 
few  years  the  few  amateur  clubs  of  Great  Britain  adopt  a 
definition  similar  to  that  which  obtains  in  rowing.  It  is 
sure  to  come,  for  to-day  the  better  element,  once  it  has 
left  the  universities,  shuns  competition,  driven  out  by  the 
lower. 

Every  boating -man  in  the  universe  knows  the  Henley 
Regatta,  instituted  in  1839,  as  not  only  the  largest  in  the 
world,  but  the  only  one  at  which  all  the  entries  are  hona 
fide  amateurs  beyond  question.  It  more  nearly  approaches 
— indeed,  it  would  probably  be  more  correct  to  say  that  it 
surpasses — the  scenes  of  our  boat-race  week  at  New  Lon- 
don, wherein  the  Oxford-Cambridge  event  in  March  is  lack- 
ing. Henley  is  a  three  days'  festival  of  the  gayest  descrip- 
tion in  the  first  week  of  July;  the  river-banks  are  lined 
with  college  barges  hired  for  the  occasion,  and  brought 
down  from  Oxford  and  all  lavishly  decorated ;  the  Thames 
swarms  with  small  boats,  which  crowd  to  the  banks  to 
clear  the  course  when  a  race  is  called,  and  the  enthu- 
siasm— for  Englishmen — is  considerable.  It  should  be 
borne  in  mind  that  the  much-criticised  "gentlemen  ama- 
teur" definition  governs  all  the  racing  of  this  regatta, 
and  it  is  the  cleanliness  of  the  sport  that  this  rule  as- 
sures and  the  character  of  the  contestants  that  makes 
Henley  so  thoroughly  enjoyable  and  sport-giving,  and  its 
cups  represent  the  championships  of  two  hemispheres. 
The  programme  includes :  The  Grand  Challenge  Cup  for 
eights,  open  to  any  amateur  crew  in  the  world;  the 
Stewards'  Challenge  Cu])  for  fours,  open  to  the  world  ; 
the  Ladies'  Challenge  Plate,  open  only  to  English  uni- 


ROWING— ON  THE  THAMES 


169 


versity,  college,  and  public -school  eights  ;  the  Visitors' 
Challenge  Cup  for  fours,  open  only  to  college  and  school 
crews ;  the  Thames  Challenge  Cup  for  eights,  open  to  the 
world — 

"but  no  member  of  the  wiiiniug  ci-ew,  cockswain  excepted,  of  the 
Grand  Challenge  or  Stewards'  cups  may  row,  nor  can  the  same  man 
enter  for  tliis  race  and  for  others  in  the  same  year  " ; 

the  Wyfold  Challenge  Cup  for  fours,  open  to  the  world 
under  the  same  conditions  as  the  Stewards'  Cup ;  the 
Silver  Goblets  for  pair  oars,  open  to  the  world  ;  the  Dia- 
mond Challenge  Sculls  for  singles,  open  to  the  world. 

The  entries  at  this  regatta  are  from  the  colleges  of  both 
Oxford  and  Cambridge,  the  public  schools,  and  the  clubs. 


LONDON    ROWING    Cl-Ult    BOAT-HOLSE    AT    PL'TNKY — CSKI 


IVO  A   SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

the  three  great  clubs  —  Leander,  London,  and  Thames  — 
being  the  most  important  competitors,  and  the  college- 
trained  oarsman  invariably  shows  to  better  advantage 
than  the  graduate  of  the  river  school. 

Although  there  is  no  definite  restriction  to  that  effect, 
the  Leander  Rowing  Club  is  to  a  great  extent  membered 
by  university  men,  and  consequently  their  crews  are  com- 
posed pretty  much  of  past  or  present  'varsit}^  and  college 
oars.  The  London  Club  is  not  so  exclusive,  but  its  crew 
likewise  is  made  up  largely  of  similar  material.  The 
Thames  Club  does  not  confine  its  membership  to  college 
men,  though  all  its  oarsmen  are  desirable,  and  the  ama- 
teur standard  is  maintained.  There  have  been  occasions 
when  the  club  made  a  slight  deviation,  but,  as  a  usual 
thing,  it  lives  up  to  the  lines  pretty  closely. 

Following  Henley,  in  about  the  middle  of  Jul}^,  comes, 
the  race  for  the  Wingfield  Sculls,  open  only  to  "gentle- 
men scullers  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland."  The  trophies  are  silver  sculls,  presented  in  1830 
by  Henry  C.  Wingfield  to  the  "  best  amateur  sculler  of  the 
Thames."  Originally  the  course  was  from  Westminster 
to  Putney  Bridge  ;  then  in  1849  it  was  changed  to  be 
rowed  annually,  August  10th,  from  Putney  to  Kew,  a 
distance  of  6  miles ;  but  in  '61  it  was  altered  to  the  pres- 
ent course,  4^  miles,  from  Putney  Aqueduct  to  the  Ship 
(Tavern)  at  Mortlake.  The  winning  of  this  trophy  carries 
with  it  the  amateur  championship  of  Great  Britain,  and 
the  best  oarsmen  of  the  mother  country  are  always  to  be 
found  among  the  entries.  Since  '61  a  badge  has  been 
given  to  the  successful  oarsmen,  while  the  box  in  which 
the  trophy  itself  is  contained  is  literally  covered  with 
silver  plates  containing  the  names  of  its  annual  winners. 

Directly  after  Henley,  too,  comes  the  Metropolitan  Re- 
gatta, founded  in  ^GG,  at  which  four  cups  are  given — one 


ROWING— ON   THE   THAMES  17? 

each  for  Junior  and  Senior  eights,  one  for  fours,  and  one 
for  scullers  ;  Thames  National  Regatta  for  watermen — 
champion  fours,  pair  oars,  sculls,  apprentice  sculls,  and  the 
famous  Doggett  Coat  and  Badge  race. 

The  waterman,  to  prove  the  place  he  occupies  in  the 
esteem  of  British  oarsmen,  is  favored  by  several  closely 
following  regattas,  and  in  August  come  the  Windsor  and 
Eton  regattas,  which  furnish  excellent  sport,  and  the 
Amateur  Punting  Championships,  where  the  most  skilful 
pole- work  in  the  world  may  be  seen  and  enjoyed,  for  these 
punt  races,  as  may  be  judged  by  the  form  of  the  craft, 
which  is  flat-bottomed,  without  stem,  keel,  or  stern-post, 
the  width  at  each  end  being  at  least  one-half  of  the  Avidth 
at  the  widest  part,  are  no  end  of  fun  as  well  as  sport. 

Besides  all  this  boating  on  the  Thames,  there  are  innu- 
merable regattas  given  by  different  cities— Chester,  Bed- 
ford, Derry,  Reading,  Molesey,  Ipswich,  Mersey,  AVorces- 
ter,  Leicester,  York,  Nottingham,  Kingston-on-Thames, 
etc.,  to  no  end.  It  may  be  judged,  therefore,  from  this 
list  of  regattas,  which  does  not  pretend  to  be  complete, 
that  the  boating  spirit  in  England  is  intense,  and  its  in- 
fluence felt  throughout  the  kingdom. 

In  Ireland  and  Scotland  there  are  a  number  of  clubs 
which  hold  annual  regattas,  but  rarely  send  a  crew  to 
Henley.  Dublin  University  sometimes  is  represented,  but 
is  about  the  only  one  that  has  ever  put  in  an  appearance. 
There  are  clubs  and  rowing  at  Belfast,  Dublin,  Cork, 
Limerick,  and  Londonderry  in  Ireland,  and  at  Edinburgh, 
Glasgow,  Greenock,  and  Aberdeen  in  Scotland. 

Although  pretending  to  have  no  jurisdiction  outside  of 
England,  I  believe,  nevertheless,  the  Amateur  Rowing 
Association  is  looked  upon  as,  and  unquestionably  is,  the 
ruling  spirit  of  the  British  Kingdom.  It  is  to  rowing,  in 
fact,  what  the  Marylebone  Club  is  to  cricket  and  llurhng- 


174 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


ham  is  to  polo,  and  this  for  the  very  evident  and  good  rea- 
son that  its  guidance  remains  in  the  hands  of  gentlemen. 

The  executive  committee  has  amongst  its  members 
the  president  of  the  Oxford  and  of  the  Cambridge 
boat  clubs,  the  captains  of  the  London,  Leander,  and 
Thames  rowing  clubs,  and  the  Honorable  Secretary  of 
the  association. 

Its  roster  of  membership  numbers  36  affiliated  clubs ; 
besides,  there  are  in  great  Britain  60  Metropolitan  clubs, 
30  of  which  are  also  members  of  the  Kational  Amateur 
Kowing  Association,  and  the  West  End  Amateur  Kowing 
Association,  92  provincial  clubs,  24  tradesmen's  clubs,  and 
21  seacoast  clubs. 

It  may  be  judged,  therefore,  that  this  great  boating 
spirit,  upon  w^hich  I  have  commented  so  exhaustively,  is 
not  confined  to  Oxford  and  Cambridge. 

HENLEY-ON-THAMES   ROYAL  REGATTA  AVINNERS 


GRAND   CHALLENGE  CUP,  for  Eight  Oau8.— Established  1839. 

Time. 


1839  First  Tiinity,  Cambridge  . 

1840  Leauder  Club 

1841  Cambridge  Subs,  rooms*  . 
1S42  Cambridge  Subs,  rooms.. 

1843  Oxford  U.  B.  C.  (T  oars). . . 

1844  Etoniau  C,  Oxford 

1845  Cambridge  U.  B.  C. . 


8  30 

9  0 
8  25 

i30 


1846  Thames  Club,  London 8  15 

1847  Oxford  U.  B.  C 8    0 

1848  OxfordU.  B.  C 9  11 

1849  Wadham  College,  Oxfordt 

1850  Oxford  U.  B.  C 

1851  Oxford  U.  B.  C 7  45 

1852  OxfordU.  B.  C 

1853  OxfordU.  B.C 8  23 

1854  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 8  15 

1855  Cambridge  U.  B.  C 8  32 

1856  Royal  Chester  R.  C 

185T  London  Rowing  Club 7  50 

1858  Cambridge  U.  B.  C 7  26 

1859  London  Rowing  Club 7  45 

1860  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 8  55 

1861  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 8  15 

1S62  London  Rowing  Club 8    2 

1863  University  College,  Oxford 7  45 

1864  Kingston  Rowing  Club 7  40 

1865  Kingston  Rowing  Club 7  26 

1866  Etonian  Club,  Oxford 8  29 


1867  Etonian  Club,  Oxford 7  54 

1808  London  Rowing  Club 7  23 

1869  Etonian  Club,  Oxford 7  28 

1870  Etonian  Club,  Oxford 7  18 

1871  Etonian  Club,  Oxford 8   5 

1872  London  Rowing  Club 8  37 

1873  London  Rowing  Club 7  58 

1874  London  Rowing  Club 7  43 

1S75  Leander  Club 7  22 

1876  Thames  Rowing  Club 7  27 

1877  London  Rowing  Club 8  16 

1S7S  Thames  Rowing  Club 7  42 

1879  Jesus  College,  Cambridge 8  39 

ISSO  Leander  Club 7   3 

1881  London  Rowing  Club 7  24 

1882  Exeter  College,  Oxford 8  11 

1883  London  Rowing  Club 7  51 

1854  London  Rowing  Club 7  27 

1855  Jesus  College,  Cambridge 7  22 

1886  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge 6  53 

1587  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge 6  56 

1588  Thames  Rowing  Club 7    1 

1889  Thames  Rowing  Club 7   4 

ISOO  London  l{owing  Club 7   4i 

1801  Leander  Cltib 6  51 

1892  Leander  Club 7  48i 

1893  Leander  Club 7  45 

1894  Leander  Club 7  22 


A  foul  claimed  and  allowed  against  the  Leander  Club, 
t  A  foul  claimed  and  allowed  against  Second  Trinity,  Cambridge. 


ROWING— ON   THE  THAMES 


175 


LADIES'  CHALLENGE  PLATE,  for  Eioiit  OAits.-Established  1S45. 


1S45  St.  George's  Club,  London 8  25 

1846  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 

184T  Brasenose,  Oxford 9   0 

1548  Christ  Church,  Oxford 

1549  Wadhain  College,  Oxford 

1850  Lincoln  College,  Oxford,  r  o 

1851  Brasenose,  Oxford 8  10 

185'i  Pembroke  College,  Oxford 

1853  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 8  15 

1854  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 7  55 

1855  Balliol  College,  Oxford 7  58 

1856  Royal  Chester  R.  C 

1857  Exeter  College,  Oxford 7  57 

1858  Balliol  College.  Oxford 7  51 

1859  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 7  55 

1860  First  Trinity,  Cambridge,  r  o. . . 

1861  First  Trinity,  Cambridge,  r  o. . .     8  17 

1862  University  College,  Oxford 8  17 

1863  University  College,  Oxford 7  23 

1864  Eton  College  Boat  Club 7  5i) 

1865  Third  Trinity,  Cambridge 7  38 

1866  Eum  College  Boat  Club  8  16 

1867  Eton  College  Boat  Club 7  56 

1868  Eton  College  Boat  Club.. 7  25 

1869  Eton  College  Boat  Club 7  56 


1S70  Eton  College  Boat  Club 7  47 

1871  Pembroke  College,  Oxford 7  56 

1872  Jesus  C'ollege,  Cambridge S  39 

1873  Jesus  College,  Cambridge 7  54 

1874  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 8   9 

1875  Trinity  College,  Dublin 7  28 

1876  Jesus  College,  Cambridge 7  31 

1877  Jesus  College,  Cambridge 8  22 

1878  Jesus  College,  Cambridge 8  52 

1S79  Lady  Margaret,  Cambridge 8  53 

1880  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge 7  26 

1881  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 7  51 

1882  Eton  College  Boat  Chib 8  37 

1883  Christ  Church,  Oxford 7  50 

1884  Eton  College  Boat  Club 7  37 

1885  Eton  College  Boat  Club 7  21 

1886  Pembroke  College,  Cambridge..  7  17 

1887  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge 7  10 

1888  Lady  Margaret  B.  C,  Cambridge  7  18 

1889  Christ  Church,  Oxford 7  22 

1890  Balliol  College  B.  C,  Oxford. ...  7  16 

1891  Balliol  College  B.C., Oxford....  7  20 

1892  First  Trinity  B.  C,  Cambridge. .  7  43^ 

1893  Eton  College  Boat  Club 7  32 

1894  Eton  College  Boat  Club 7  36 


THAMES  CHALLENGE  CUP,  fok  Eigut  Oaus.— Established  1868. 


1868  Pembroke  College,  Oxford 7  46  1882 

1869  Oscillators  B.  C,  Surbiton j  1883 

1870  Oscillators  B.  C,  Surbiton 1884 

1871  Ino  Rowing  Club,  London 8    3  '  1885 

1872  Thames  Rowing  Club 8  42  1886 

1873  Thames  Rowing  Club 8    2  1887 

1874  Thames  Rowing  Club 8  19  1SS8 

1875  London  Rowing  Club 7  33  1SS9 

1876  West  London  Rowing  Club 7  37  1890 

1877  London  Rowing  Club S  29  1891 

1878  London  Rowing  Clul) 7  55  1892 

1879  Twickenham  Rowing  Club 8  55  1893 

1880  London  Rowing  CUib 7  43  1894 

1881  Twickenham  Rowing  Club 7  50 


Roynl  Chester  Rowing  Club. . . 

London  Rowing  Club 8    5 

Twickenham  Rowing  Club 7  48 

London  Rowing  Club. 7  36 

London  Rowing  Club 7    5^ 

Trinity  Hall  B.  C,  Cambridge  .  7  20 

Lady  Margaret  College,  Cam...  7  19 

Christ  Church,  Oxford 7  16 

Thames  Rowing  Club 7  2lf 

Molesev  Boat  Club 7  18 

Jesus  College  B.  C,  Cambridge  8  10 

Thames  Rowing  Club 7  49 

Trinity  College  B.  C,  Oxford. .  7  58 


VISITORS'  CHALLENGE  CUP,  for  Foue  Oaes — Established  1847. 


1847  Christ  Church,  Oxford 9    0 

1848  Christ  Church,  Oxfind 

1849  Christ  Church,  Oxford 

1S.W  Christ  Church,  Oxford 

1851  Christ  Church,  Oxford 9   0 

1852  Argonauts  Club,  London 

1853  Argonauts  Club,  London 

1854  St.  John's,  Cambridge 8  48 

18.55  St.  John's,  Cambridge 

1856  St.  John's,  Cambridge —  — -■ 

1857  Pembroke  College,  Oxford 8  40 

1858  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 

1859  Third  Trinity,  Cambridge 

1860  First  Trinitv,  Cambridge 

1861  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 8    5 

1802  Brasenose  College,  Oxford 9  40 

1863  Brasenose  College,  Oxford 

1864  University  College,  Oxford 

1865  Third  Trinity,  Cambridge 

1866  University  College,  Oxford 8  49 

1867  University  College,  Oxford,  r  o. 

1863  University  College,  Oxfoid 8  15 

18G9  University  College,  Oxford 9    7 

1870  Trinity  College,  Dublin 8  37 


First  Trinity,  Cambridge 9   8 

Pembroke  College,  Oxford 9  28 

Trinity  College,  Dublin — — 

Trinity  College,  Dublint 8  50 

University  College,  Oxford 8  20 

University  College,  Oxford 8   5 

Jesus  College,  Cambridge 9    7 

Columbia  College,  U.  S.  A 8  42 

Lady  Margaret,  Cambridge 9  21 

Third  Trinity,  Cambridge 8  16 

First  Trinity,  Cambridge 8  22 

Brasenose  College,  Oxford 9  23 

Christ  Church,  Oxford 

Third  Trinity,  Cambridge 8  39 

Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge 7  41 

First  -i'dnity  B.  C,  Cambridge  8  20|- 

Trinity  Hall  B.  C,  Cambridge.  8   8 

Brasenose  College,  Oxford 7  59 

Third  Trinity  B.  C,  Cambridge  8   6 

Brasenose  (College,  Oxford 7  42 

Trinitv  Hall  B.  C,  Cambridge.  7  45 

Third  Trinity  B.  C,  Cambridge  8  23 

Third  Trinity  B.  C,  Cambridge  8  21 

New  College walkover 


176 


A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 


DIAMOND  CHALLENGE  SCULLS-EstiiWished  1S44. 

Time. 


1S45 
1846 


1849 
1S50 
1851 


1854 

1855 

1856 

1S5T 
1SS8 
■!S59 
1800 
1861 
1862 
1803 

1864 

1805 

1866 

1867 

186S 


T.  B.  Bunipsted,  Scnlleis'  Club, 

London 10  32 

S.  Wallace,  Leauder 11  80 

E.  G.  Moon,  Magdalen  College, 

Oxfoid 

W.  ManU;  Fii-t  Trinity,  Cam...  10  45 
W.  L.  <.i.  H:iLCslia\ve,  Tliiid  Trin- 


ity, C 


10 


T.  K.  Bone,  London 

T.  R.  Bone,  Meteor  Club,  London 
E.   G.   Peacock,   Thames  Club, 

London  

E.  Macnaghteu,  First  Trinity, 

Cambridge 

S.  Rippingall,  Peterhouse,  Cam.. 
H.  H.  Playford,   Wandle  Club, 

London 

A.    A.    Casamajor,     Argonauts 

Club,  London 9  2T 

A.     A.    Casamajor,    Arg(maut8 

Club,  London 

A.  A.  Casama.jor,  L.  R.  C —  — 

A.  A.  Casamajor,  L.  R.  C 

E.  D.  Brickwood,  Richmond 10   S 

H.  H.  Playford,  L.  R.  C 1-2   4 

A.  A.  Casamajor,  L.  R  C 10   0 

E.  D.  Brickwood,  L.  R.  C* 10  40 

C.  B.  Lawes,  Third  Trinity,  Cam- 
bridge      9  43 

W.  B.  VVoodgate,  Braseuose  Col- 
lege, Oxford 10   3 

E.  15  Michell,  Magdaleu  College, 

O.xford 9  11 

E.  H.  Michell,  Magdaleu  College, 

Oxford 9  55 

W.    C.  Crofts,    Braseuose    Col- 
lege, Oxford 10   2 

W.  Stout.  L.  R.  C 9    6 

W.    C.    Crofrs,   Braseuose    Col- 
lege, Oxford 9  56 

John  B.   Close,  First  Trinity, 

Cambridge 9  43 


1871  W.  Fawcus,  Tynemouth  R.  C. 

1872  C.  C.  Knollys,  Magdaleu  Col- 

lege, Oxford 

1873  A.  C.  Dicker,  St.  John's  College, 

Cambridge 

1874  A.  C.  Dicker,  St.  Johu's  College. 

Cambridge 

1875  A.  C.  Dicker,  St.  Johu's  College, 

Cambridge 

1876  F.  L.  Playford,  L.  R.  C 

1877  T.  C.  Edwards-Moss,  Braseuose 

College,  Oxford 

1878  T.  C.  lidwards-Moss,  Braseuose 

College,  Oxford 

1879  J.  Lowndes,  Hertford  College, 

Oxford 

1880  J.  Lowndes,  Derby 

ISSl  J.  Lowndes,  Derby 

1882  J.  Lowndes,  Derby 

1883  J.  Lowndes,  T.  R.  C 

1884  W.   S.  Unwin,   Magdaleu    Col- 

lege, Oxford 

1885  W.  S.  Uuwiu,   Magdalen   Col- 

lege, Oxford 

1886  F.  I.  Prtman,  Third  Trinity  B. 

C,  Cambridge 

1887  J.  C  Gardner,  Emmanuel  Col- 

lege, Cambridge 

ISSS  Guy  Nickalls,   Magdalen  Col- 
lege, Oxford 

1889  Guy  Nickalls,   Magdaleu   Col- 

lege, Oxford 

1890  Guy  Nickalls,  Magdalen    Col- 

lege, Oxford 

1891  V.  Nickalls,  Magdaleu  College, 

Oxford 

1892  J.  J.  K.  Ooms;  Neptunus  R.  C, 

Amsterdam 

1893  Guy  Nickalls,  Magdaleu   Col- 

lege, Oxford 

1894  Guy   Nickalls,   Magdaleu  Col- 

lege, Oxford 


10  9 
10  48 

9  45 
10  50 

9  15 

10  20 
9  37 

12  33 

9  10 
9  28 
1143 
10    2 


9    5 

8  51 
8  30 

8  56 

9  571- 

19  9^ 
9  12 
9  32 


After  a  dead  heat  with  W.  B.  Woodgate,  Braseuose  College,  Oxford,  10m.  22s. 


WYFOLD  CHALLENGE  CUP,  bok  Foue  Oars.— Established  1855.^ 


1855  Royal  Chester  Rowing  Club 

1856  Argonauts  Club,  Loudon 

1857  Pembroke  College,  Oxford 8  30 

IS.'iS  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 

18.59  First  Trinity,  Cambridge 8  21 

1800  Loudon  Rowing  Club 10    8 

1861  Brasenose  College,  Oxford • 

1862  London  Rowing  Club 9  20 

1863  Kingston  Rowing  Club 8  50 

1864  Kingston  Rowing  Club 

1865  Kingston  Rowing  Club 8  23 

1866  Kingston  Rowing  Club 

1867  Kingston  Rowing  Club 

1868  Kingston  Rowing  Club 8  32 

1S60  Oscillators  B.  C,  Surbiton 8  58 

1870  Thames  Rowing  Club 8  34 

1871  Thames  Rowing  Club 

1872  Thames  Rowiuir  Club 10    8 

1S73  Kingstown  Harbor  Boat  Club..     8  37 
1874  Newcastle  A.  R.  C.t 8  58 


1875  Thames  Rowing  Club 

1876  West  London  Rowiiiir  Club. . .   . 

1877  Kingston  R.iwing  rinb 

1878  Kinsrstcm  R.nvinir  Club . 

1879  London  Rowing  Club 

1880  London  Rowing  Club 

ISSl  Dublin  University  Rowing  Club 

1882  Jesus  College,  Cambridge 

1883  Kingston  Rowing  Club 

1884  Thames  Rowing  Club 

1885  Kingston  Rowing  Club 

1886  Thames  Rowing  Club 

1887  Pemb.  Coll.  B.  C,  Cambridge. . . 

1888  Thames  Rowing  Club 

1889  London  Rowing  Club 

1890  Kinsston  Rowing  Club 

1891  Roval  Chester  Rowing  Club  .... 

1892  Molesey  Boat  Club 

1893  Molesey  Boat  Club 

1894  Thames  Rowing  Club 


8  10 
8  26 


8    4 
7  50 

75S 
7  40 

7  50 

8  42 


*  In  1847,  and  for  some  years  following,  the  AVyfold  Cup  was  given  to  the  best 
among  the  challengers  for  the  Grand  Challenge  Cup. 
t  Rowed  without  a  cockswain. 


ROWING— ON  THE   THAMES 
SILVER  GOBLETS,  fob  Paiu-Oars.— Established  1845. 

Time. 


1845  F.    M.    Arnold    and    G.    Mann, 

Cains,  Cambridge 

1846  W.  H.  Milnian  and  M.  Haggard, 

Christ  Church,  Oxford 

1S4T  Falls       and      Coulthard,      St. 

George's,  London 

XS4S  W.  H.  Milman  and  M.  Haggard, 

Christ  Church,  Oxford 

1849  Peacock  and  F.  Playford,  Lon- 

don  

1850  Chitty  and  Hornby,  Bal.  and  B. 

N.  C,  Oxford 

1851  Chitty  and  Aitken,  Bal.  and  Ex- 

eter, Oxford 

1852  Barker  and  Nind,  Christ  Church, 

Oxford 

1853  Barlee    and    Gordon,    Christ's, 

Cambridge 

1S54  Cadogan  and  Short,  Christ  Ch. 
and  New,  Oxford 

1855  Nottidge  and  Casamajor,  Lon- 

don   

1856  Nottidge  and  Casamajor,  Lon- 

don   

1857  Warre   and   Lonsdale,    Balliol, 

Oxford 

1858  H.  Playford  and  Casamajor,  L. 

R.C 

1859  Warre  and  Arkell,  Balliol  and 

Pemliroke,  Oxford 

1860  Casamajor  and  Woodbridge,  L. 

R.  C 

1861  Woodgate  and   Champueys,  B. 

N.  C,  Oxford 

1862  Woodgate  and  Champneys,  B. 

N.C.,  Oxford 

1863  Woodgate  and  Shepherd,  B.  N. 

C,  Oxford 

1864  Selwyn    and    Klnglake,    Third 

Trinity,  Cambridge 

1865  May  and  Fenner,  L.  R.  C 

1866  Corrie  and  Woodgate,  K.  R.  C. 
1S6T  Corrie  and  Brown,  K.  R.  C 

STEWARDS'  CHALLENGE 
Oxford  Club,  London. 


1842 
1S43 
1844 
1845 
1S4G 
1S47 
1S48 
1S49 
1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1S5T 


1860 
1861 
1S62 
1«!63 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 


St.  George's  Club,  London.. . 

OxfordU.  B.  C 

Oxford  U.  B.  C 

OxfordU.  B.C 

Christ  Church,  Oxford 

Christ  Church,  Oxford 

Leander  Club 

Oxford  U.  B.  C 

Cambridge  U.  B.  C 

Oxford  U.B.C 

Oxford  U.B.C 

Pembroke  College,  Oxford. . . 
Royal  Chester  Rowing  Club. 

Argonaut  Club,  London 

London  Rowing  Club 

London  Rowing  Club 

Third  Trinity,  Cambridge  . . . 

First  Trinity,  Caml)ridge 

First  Trinity,  Cambridge 

Brasenose  College,  Oxford. . . 
University  College,  Oxford.. 

London  Rowing  Club 

Third  Trinity,  Cambridge. . . 
University  College,  Oxford.. 
University  College,  Oxford.. 
London  Rowing  Club 

12 


10   0 
9    5 


9    0 
11    5 


9  7 
9  39 
9  49 

CUP, 
9  16 

10  15 
9  16 


9  85 
9  40 
8  24 
8  45 

8  13 

9  28 
8  45 


1868  Cirofts  and  Woodgate,  B.  N.  C. 

1869  Long  and  Stout,  L.  R.  C 

1870  Corrie  and  Hall,  K.  R.  C 

1871  Long  and  Gulston,  L.  R.  C . . . . 

1872  Long  and  Gulston,  L.  R.  C 

1873  C.  C.  Knollys  and  A.  Trower, 

K.  R.C 

1874  Long  and  Gulston,  L.  R.  C 

1875  Chillingworth  and  Herbert 

1876  S.  Le  B.  Smith  and  F.  S.  Gul- 

ston, L.  R.C 

1877  W.  H.  Eyre  and  J.  Hastie,  T.R.C. 

1878  W.   A.   Ellison    and   T.   C.   Ed- 

wards-Moss, Oxford 

1879  R.  H.  Labat  and  F.  S.  Gulston, 

L.  R.  C 

1880  W.  H.  Eyre  and  J.  Hastie,  T.R.C. 

1881  W.H.  Eyre  and  J.  Hastie,  T.R.C. 

1882  D.  E.  Blown  and  J.  Lowndes, 

Hertford,  Oxford 

1883  G.  Q.  Roberts  and  D.  E.  Brown, 

Twickenham  Rowing  Club. .. 

1S84  J.  Lowndes  and  D.  E.  Brown, 

Twickenham  Rowing  Club... 

1885  H.  McLean  and  D.  H.  McLean, 

Oxford  Etonians 

1886  F.  E.  Churchill  and  S.  D.  Muttle- 

bury.  Third  Trinity,  Cam 

1887  C.  T.  Barclay  and  S.  D.  Muttle- 

bury,  Third  Trinity,  Cam 

1888  N.   P.  Symonds  and   E.  Buck, 

Cambridge  and  Oxford  U.B.C. 

1889  J.  C.  Gardner  and  S.  D.  Muttle- 

bury,  Cambridge  U.  B.  C 

1890  Lord  Ampthill  and  Guy  Nick- 

alls,  O.  U.B.C 

1891  Lord  Ampthill  and  Guy  Nick- 

alls,  Leander  Club 

1892  V.  Nickalls  and  W.  A.  L.  Fletch- 

er, O.  U.  B.  C 

1893  V.  Nickalls  and  W.  A.  L.  Fletch- 

er, O.  U.B.C 

1894  G.  and  V.  Nickalls 

FOK  FouB  Oars.— Established  1842. 

1809  London  Rowing  Club 

1S70  Etonian  Club,  Oxford 

1871  London  Rowing  Club 

1872  Loudon  Rowing  Club 

1873  London  Rowing  Club* 

1874  London  Rowing  Club 

1875  London  Rowing  Club 

1876  London  Rowing  Club 

1877  London  Rowing  Club 

1S7S  London  Rowing  Club 

1879  Jesus  College,  Cambridge 

1880  Thames  Rowing  Club 

1881  Hertford  College,  Oxford 

1SS2  Hertford  College,  Oxford 

1883  Thames  Rowing  Club 


[  1884  Kingston  Rowing  Club 

!  1885  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge 

1886  Thames  Rowing  Club 

1SS7  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge 

1888  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge 

1889  Thames  Rowing  Club 

1890  Brasenose  College  B.  C,  Oxford 

1891  Thames  Rowing  Club 

1992  Royal  Chester  Rowing  Club 

1893  Magdalen  College  B.  C,  Oxford. 

1894  Thames  Rowing  Club 

*  Rowed  without  a  cockswain 


177 


9  20 
10  17 


9  22 

10  3 
9  3 


1116 

8  45 

9  4 


9  22 
9  1 

8  40 
8  15 

8  25 
8  38 

8  30 

9  7 

844 
9  35 


8  34 

8  5 

9  2 
9  21 

8  25 

9  0 

7  56 

8  32 

9  7 

8  37 

9  37 

7  58 

8  15 


7  53 
7  39 

7  53 

8  25 
7  53 
7  37 
7  45 


17{ 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


WINGFIELD   SCULLS— Established  1S30 


1830 
1S31 


1837 
1S3S 
1S39 
1840 
1841 
1842 
1843 
1844 
1S45 
1846 
1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852 
1653 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1S5S 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 


J.  H.  Bayford 

C.  Lewis 

A.  A.  Julius 

C.  Lewis 

A.  A.  Julius —  — 

A.  A.  Julius 

H.Wood 

P.  Colquhoun 

H.Wood 

H.  Chapman —  — 

T.  L.  Jenkins 

T.  L.  Jenkins 

H.  Chapman —  — 

H.  Chapman 

T.  B.  Bumpsted 

H.  Chapman 

C.Russell.... 

J.  R.  L.  Walmisley 

J.  R.  L.  Walmisley 

F.  Plavf ord 

T.  R.  Bone 

T.  R.  Bone 

E.  G.  Peacock 

J.  Paine 

H.  H.  Playfoid 

A.  A.  Casamajor —  — 

A.  A.  Casamajor 

A.  A.  Casamajor 

A.  A.  Casamajor 

A.  A.  Casamajor 

A.  A.  Casamajor.   

E.  D.  Brickwood 29   0 

W.B.Woodgate 27   0 


Time. 

1863  J.  E.  Parker 25   6 

1864  W.  B.  Woodgate 25  35 

1865  C.  B.  Lawes 27    4 

1866  E.  B.  Michell 27  26 

1867  VV.  B.  Woodgate 

1S68  W.  Stout 26  52 

1869  A.  de  L.  Long —  — 

1870  A.  deL.  Long 

1871  W.  Pawcus 26  13 

1S72  C.  C.  KnoUys 28  30 

1873  A.  C.  Dicker 24  40 

1874  A.  C.  Dicker 25  45 

1875  F.  L.  Playford 27   8 

1876  F.L.  Playford 24  46 

1877  F.  L.  Playford 24  41 

1878  V.  L.  Playford 25  14 

1879  F.L.  Playford 24  50 

1880  A.  Payne 24    2 

1881  J.  Lowndes 25  13 

1882  A.  Payne 27  40 

1883  J.  Lowndes 

1884  W.  S.  Unwin 24  12 

1885  W.S.  Unwin 25    2 

1886  F.  L  Pitman 24  12 

1887  GuyNickalls 25  23 

1SS8  Guv  Nickalls 23  36 

1889  Gnv  Nickalls 

1890  J.  C.  Gardner. 26  20 

1891  GuyNickalls 

1892  Vivian  Nickalls 23  40 

1893  G.  E.  B.  Kennedy 24  56 

1894  Vivian  Nickalls 23  30 


vn 

UNIVERSITY  FOOTBALL 

Although  football  is  the  oldest  of  all  organized  Eng- 
lish out-door  sport,  its  introduction  into  the  universities 
is  of  comparatively  recent  date.  Comparatively,  when 
we  consider  that  rowing  goes  quite  back  to  the  very  be- 
ginning of  the  present  century,  and  that  football  in  Eng- 
land was  flourishing  most  actively  as  early  as  1300.  It 
does  appear  curious,  at  first  thought,  that  the  game 
should  have  thrived  so  wondrously  among  the  people, 
and  yet  be  ignored  b}^  Oxford  and  Cambridge  ;  but  the  ex- 
planation is  found  in  the  very  fact  of  its  being  the  people's 
game,  and  it  seems  never  to  have  arisen  to  the  social 
distinction  accorded  it  in  America.  It  was  not  in  those 
first  days  by  any  means  fashionable,  and  while,  since  be- 
ing added  to  the  list  of  university  sports,  it  has,  of  course, 
attained  a  much  highei*  plane  in  that  respect,  and  is,  to  a 
certain  extent,  one  of  "  society's "  outing  fixtures,  yet  it 
has  never  quite  become  the  vogue  as  in  America,  or 
as  cricket  in  England.  You  will  not  see  the  same  large 
percentage  of  cultured  spectators  at  the  Oxford-Cam- 
bridge football  contests  as,  at  Springfield  and  in  'New 
York  attentively  following  the  struggles  of  the  Harvard- 
Yale-Princeton  elevens.  Certainly  you  will  see  graduates 
and  undergraduates  at  the  English  university  matches, 
but  not  in  such  numbers  as  in  America  when  our  great 
universities  meet  on  the  gridiron  field. 

Somehow  football  in  England  has  never  lost  the  origi- 


180  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

nal  stamp  that  made  it  the  property  of  the  populace. 
Contemporary  with  its  modern  popularity,  there  sprang 
up  such  noisome  scandal  from  deeply-rooted  professional- 
ism that  the  better  element,  which  in  America  lends  the 
game  distinctive  and  distinguished  coloring,  in  England  is 
scarcely  large  enough  to  give  a  lighter  shading  to  the 
sombre  effects  of  the  mass. 

Just  a  few  words  now  of  the  early  days  of  football  in 
England,  that  we  may  reach  its  introduction  in  the  uni- 
versities. The  first  we  hear  of  the  game  is  about  1300, 
when  from  all  accounts  it  must  have  been  very  popular, 
since  it  flourished,  despite  no  end  of  vigorous  opposition, 
up  to  the  seventeenth  century,  growing  meanwhile  quite 
as  phenomenally  as  we  in  America  have  seen  it  expand 
during  the  last  few  years,  and  absorbing  even  more  of  the 
people's  attention.  It  was  a  crude  game,  with,  I  dare  say, 
still  cruder  rules,  and,  from  all  historians  tell  us,  must  have 
been  a  more  or  less  lustily  sustained  contest  between  dif- 
ferent towns  or  counties,  in  which  the  inhabitants  of  each 
engaged  with  all  the  ardor  of  rival  sections.  The  side 
having  the  ball  (usually  an  inflated  bladder)  endeavored 
to  carry  it  into  the  town  of  their  opponents  and  to  touch 
some  door  or  house  or  tree  previously  agreed  upon  as 
goal.  Oftentimes  the  field  of  play  might  be  several  miles 
in  length  or  breadth,  and,  indeed,  these  early  contests  may 
be  likened  to  the  advance  of  an  army,  with  its  skirmish- 
ers thrown  out  along  the  lines,  and  its  closed  bodies  of 
fighting-men  struggling  to  reach  the  coveted  goal  in  the 
enemy's  territory.  The  use  of  both  hands  and  feet  was 
permitted,  and  tackling  must  have  been  one  of  the  most 
important  features. 

It  is  easy  to  understand  why  this  hurly burly  game  did 
not  find  favor  with  the  fashion — especially  the  dilettante 
fashion  of  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries — and  why 


UNIVERSITY  FOOTBALL 


181 


it  led  so  tempestuous  a  life,  frowned  on  by  the  nobility, 
and  discouraged  and  even  forbidden  by  the  ruling  sov- 
ereigns. Bitterly  opposed  by  the  government,  king  after 
king  on  ascending  the  throne  issued  proclamations  against 
football,  while  the  merchants  in  the  cities  appealed  to  the 
local  authorities  against  the  pla}^  of  the  very  boys  in  the 
streets.  Probably  no  other  game  ever  struggled  through 
and  prospered  under  such  bitter  opposition. 

There  is  no  opposition  to  the  game  in  England  to-day, 
but  in  America  we  have  had  some  experience  in  that  line 
the  last  two  years,  and  know  what  silly  objections  timor- 
ous and  bigoted  people  may  put  forth  in  their  ignorance, 
and  how  strenuously  they  can  urge  them. 

To  these,  more  particularly  to  those  whose  unsound  ex- 
ploitations found  harbor  in  the  winter  of  '93-' 94  with  one 
or  two  American  editors  equally  prejudiced,  I  commend 
a  gem  I  discovered  in  an  old  English  history  of  the  game, 
which,  among  other  reasons  given  for  a  belief  in  the  end- 
ing of  the  world  in  1583,  was  that  "  football  playing  and 
other  devilishe  pastimes"  were  occupying  too  much  of 
the  people's  attention.  And  I  think  it  eminently  fitting 
to  record  here  also,  as  one  of  the  curiosities  left  by  the 


RUGBY   UNION    SCRIMMAGE 


182  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

futile  but  bigoted  wave  that  swept  over  us  last  winter, 
the  unsuccessful  effort  of  the  Cambridge  Member  of  the 
Massachusetts  State  Legislature  to  introduce,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1894,  a  bill  providing  for  the  punishment  of  one 
"  who  takes  part  in  a  game  of  football  when  such  a  game 
is  played  in  the  presence  of  persons  who  have  paid  an 
admission  fee  to  witness  the  same,  or  who  promotes  the 
playing  of  a  game  of  football  when  money  is  charged  for 
admission  to  the  same,  or  who  offers  or  sells  a  ticket  of 
admission  to  a  game,  or  who,  while  a  student  in  an  insti- 
tution of  learning,  and  while  engaged  in  a  game  of  foot- 
ball, beats,  strikes,  or  intentionally  wounds  or  bruises  an- 
other person  engaged  in  playing  such  game." 

However,  despite  the  opposition  and  all  the  threats  of 
imprisonment,  football  thrived  in  its  early  days  in  Eng- 
land just  as  it  has  Avith  us,  notwithstanding  the  clamor- 
ing of  people  who  neither  can  nor  would  if  they  could 
understand  the  benefits  derived  by  young  men  from  so 
hardy  a  game. 

Until  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century  football 
flourished  healthfully,  but  with  the  political  ascendency 
of  the  Puritans  a  rigid  veto  was  put  upon  the  sport ;  all 
Sunday  playing  was  stopped  entirely,  and  week  -  day 
matches  so  thoroughly  discountenanced  that  popular  in- 
terest waned  with  great  rapidity.  The  people  were  dis- 
couraged, and,  so  long  as  the  Puritans  remained  the  domi- 
nant power,  sport  of  all  kinds  entered  upon  a  period  of 
stagnation,  out  of  which  some  never  fully  came ;  it  took 
over  two  hundred  years  to  revivify  football. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  practically  all 
play  had  ceased— the  game  was  almost  a  reminiscence  of 
the  past ;  and,  indeed,  if  discussed  at  all,  spoken  of  as  a 
relic  of  an  ancient  pastime. 

It  was  not  to  be  supposed,  however,  that  a  sport  which 


^ 


UNIVERSITY  FOOTBALL  185 

had  fought  so  valiant!}'^  for  recognition,  and  one  of  such 
sterhng  quality,  would  long  remain  a  mere  memory,  and 
it  is  no  surprise,  therefore,  to  find  it  beginning  to  show 
signs  of  life  again  along  about  1820,  Between  the  thir- 
ties and  forties,  without  actually  attaining  popularity,  the 
game  continued  to  work  its  way  in  favor,  until  the  fifties 
and  sixties,  when  England's  great  public  schools  took  it 
up,  and  the  second  wave  of  football  interest  was  set  in 
motion,  not  again  to  be  checked. 

Each  school  adapted  play  in  accordance  with  the  ca- 
pacity of  its  own  ground,  and  as  one  ground  differed  from 
the  others  in  dimensions  and  surroundings,  it  came  to 
pass  that  Kugby,  Eton,  Harrow,  Winchester,  AVestmin- 
ster,  and  Charterhouse  each  developed  a  distinctive  game 
of  football,  some  of  them  rather  curious,  and  all  retained 
to  this  day.  Because  of  this  there  are  no  inter-school 
matches. 

Eton  has  two,  the  wall  and  the  field  game.  The  first 
is  altogether  too  complicated  to  explain  in  the  few  lines 
that  I  am  going  to  give.  SuflBlce  it  to  say  that  the  field 
is  120  yards  long  by  6  wide,  with  a  wall  about  10  feet 
high  running  its  entire  length  on  one  side,  and  along  which 
most  of  the  play  is  made.  A  door  4  feet  Avide  by  5  feet 
high  at  one  end,  and  a  large  elm-tree  at  the  other,  con- 
stitute the  goals.  The  game  is  unquestionably  a  develop- 
ment of  what  we  as  boys  in  the  long  ago  used  to  know 
as  "  passage  "  football,  played  stealthily  about  the  dormi- 
tories at  an  hour  when  we  were  supposed  to  be  sleeping 
the  sleep  of  good  and  tired  youngsters. 

The  Eton  field  game  is  chiefly  a  kicking  one,  the  ground 
being  from  100  to  120  yards  long,  80  to  100  yards  wide, 
and  the  goals  12  feet  wide  by  6  feet  high,  and  placed,  as 
they  are  with  us,  at  the  base-lines. 

The  Harrow  game  permits  of  catching  and  free  kick- 


186  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

ing ;  but,  although  they  have  much  more  room  than  at 
Eton,  there  is  no  running  witli  the  ball  and  no  tackling. 

At  the  Charterhouse  and  Westminster  schools  the  early 
boys  were  restricted  to  the  cloisters  for  play-ground,  and 
theirs  was  the  original  dribbling  game. 

Rugby  was  the  only  school  that  seems  to  have  had 
abundant  space,  and  therefore  the  only  one  that  originally 
played  the  game  where  tackling  and  running  with  the  ball 
were  recognized  features. 

The  Winchester  game,  again,  is  different  from  all  the 
others.  The  field  is  about  80  yards  long  by  25  yards 
wide — a  shape  that  appears  to  have  been  likewise  the  re- 
sult of  necessity,  since,  cricket  being  the  more  favored 
sport,  the  football  men  were  consigned  to  the  edges  of 
the  playing-field,  while  the  centre  was  reserved  for  the 
other.  This  originated  an  extraordinary  sort  of  play,  in 
a  field  surrounded  by  a  net.  The  game  is  really  a  pro- 
longed scrimmage  (called  a  "  hot "),  and  there  is  no 
dribbling  whatever. 

Naturally,  with  each  public  school  developing  a  distinc- 
tive game  and  graduating  its  own  players,  to  sow  the  seeds 
of  so  many  different  styles  of  play  at  the  universities,  it  was 
a  matter  of  several  years  before  the  introduction  of  a  com- 
mon game.  So,  while  the  public-school  boys  had  football 
in  plenty  between  the  fifties  and  sixties,  it  was  not  until 
well  on  in  the  sixties  that  the  game  began  to  be  plaj^ed 
at  Oxford  and  Cambridge  to  any  great  extent.  Cam- 
bridge appears  to  have  had  football  earlier  than  Oxford, 
as  there  are  records  of  a  dribbling  game  having  existed  in 
1855,  and  an  old  Etonian,  cousin  of  E.  T.  Gurdon,  who 
was  up  at  Trinity  1849-52,  says  they  used  to  play  at  that 
time  a  sort  of  compromise  between  the  Rugby  and  Eton 
game,  more  exercise  than  science.  Xo  attempt  at  an  or- 
ganization of  players  was  made  at  this  time,  however,  and 


UNIVERSITY   FOOTBALL 


187 


such  life  as  the  sport  had  so  early  was  probably  of  a  des- 
ultory character. 

Along  in  the  seventies  there  had  sprung  up  quite  a  foot- 
ball spirit  in  the  public  schools  and  in  the  universities,  and 
some  outside  clubs  had  even  begun  to  organize  teams.  In 
1S63  Cambridge  men,  who  were  playing  a  dribbling  or 
what  afterwards  became  the  Association  game,  organized, 
though,  together  with  Westminster  and  Charterhouse, 
they  had  no  off-side  play  until  1867,  when  the  rule  was 


A    WINCHKSTEU    "  HOT  " 


passed  as  it  now  stands.  The  teams  playing  Rugby  foot- 
ball were  not  associated,  but  had  an  off-side  rule  that  was 
enforced  at  Eton  and  Harrow,  and  with  especial  severity 
at  Winchester. 

In  1871  the  popularity  of  football  was  increasing  tre- 
mendously ;  all  the  public  schools  had  teams  playing  one 
style  or  the  other  of  the  game,  the  Rugby  Union  Associa- 
tion was  organized,  and  immediately  instituted  an  inter- 


188  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

national  championship  series  with  Scotland,  which,  to- 
gether with  the  Ireland  series  (formed  later),  has  ever 
since  been  the  most  interesting  feature  of  the  Rugby- 
season.  In  1872  the  Association  followed  in  the  same 
lines,  but  at  the  first  Rugby  developed  a  greater  number 
of  players  and  increased  more  rapidly  in  popularity. 

In  1873  Oxford  and  Cambridge  played  their  first 
match,  and  from  '75  to  '76  one  may  say  the  game  dates 
the  beginning  of  its  present  popularity,  which,  increasing 
year  by  year,  has  reached  the  farthermost  corners  of  the 
kingdom. 

Let  us  have  a  glance  over  the  periods  of  our  own  game. 
We  have  seen  that  the  earliest  football  of  the  English 
universities  was  in  1849,  at  Cambridge,  and  that  they  did 
not  take  up  the  game  to  any  very  great  extent  until 
well  on  in  the  seventies,  although  playing  somewhat 
during  the  sixties ;  that  Oxford  and  Cambridge  had  their 
first  match  in  1873.  Turning  to  our  own  universities, 
we  know  there  was  football  at  Yale  in  1840,  that  the 
undergraduates  played  until  1858,  when,  the  city  authori- 
ties refusing  the  use  of  the  town  green,  the  sport  was 
discontinued,  and  we  know  that  during  all  this  time  the 
game  was  not  unknown  at  Harvard. 

In  1871  football  was  revived  at  New  Haven,  and  in 
1872  the  Yale  Football  Association  was  organized,  and 
a  game  played  and  Avon  by  their  university  team  against 
Columbia. 

In  1874  the  Intercollegiate  Football  Association  was 
organized  by  Yale,  Princeton,  Columbia,  and  Rutgers ; 
and  Yale  won  the  first  championship.  From  that  year 
American  university  football  dates,  if  not  its  birth,  at 
least  its  first  attempt  at  independent  life.  How  vigorous 
the  youngster  proved  is  a  familiar  story  ;  its  creeping 
days  were  short,  and  it  ran  long  before  it  was  booked  to 


^•Xx' 


•jfrv- 


"  DRIBBLING  "    IN    THE    ASSOCIATION    GAME 


walk.  Thus  we  find  that  although  the  English  universi- 
ties had  been  rowing  many  years  before  us,  in  football 
we  stand  on  a  much  more  equal  basis. 

As  may  be  supposed,  football  is  one  of  the  most 
favored  of  English  university  games.  It  may  be  said,  I 
think,  to  occupy  the  second  place  in  popularity,  though 
I  am  aware  in  making  such  assertion  that  cricket  is 
so  strong  a  rival,  and  the  two  stand  so  very  near  to- 
gether in  interest,  that  a  choice  is  difficult.  Particu- 
larly do  I  know  that  cricket  men — indeed,  all  English- 
men— are  exceedingly  solicitous  that  their  game,  which 
has  been  called  the  national  one,  should  continue  to  be  so 
ranked,  and  I  doubt  if  the  average  Britisher  will  agree 
with  me  in  placing  rowing-  first  and  football  second  at 
Oxford  and  Cambridge;  however,  it  impressed  me  that 
the  summing  up  of  the  case  depends  entirely  on  the  Eng- 
lishman's predilections ;  I  know  I  had  some  difficulty  in 
arriving  at  an  unbiassed  decision  after  estimates  gathered 
from  many  sources. 

Every  college  at  Oxford  and  Cambridge  maintains  an 


190  A  SPOKTING  PILGRIMAGE 

Association  and  a  Rugby  Union  team,  and  some  support 
even  a  second. 

Of  their  system  of  training  little  remains  to  be  said 
that  I  have  not  already  covered.  There  is  very  much  less 
preparation  for  contests  than  that  made  by  boating  men, 
nor  do  they  receive  the  consideration  bestowed  upon  the 
members  of  college  eights.  No  pretence  is  ever  made 
of  going  into  rigid  training,  and  only  in  the  last  week  or 
ten  days  before  the  match  do  the  men  go  into  training  at 
all ;  still  it  must  be  remembered  that  these  men  are  always 
more  or  less  in  condition.  Those  who  go  in  for  sport  at 
Oxford  and  Cambridge  are,  as  a  rule,  of  natural  athletic 
inclination,  and  if  they  are  not  playing  football  they  are 
playing  cricket,  or  they  are  rowing,  or  they  are  active- 
ly interested  in  one  or  another  of  the  many  seasonable 
sports ;  as  this  goes  on  the  year  round,  it  stands  to  reason 
that  the  physical  condition  of  the  average  English  under- 
graduate is  rather  high— probably  higher  than  would  be 
found  in  an  American  college.  Football  men  are  as  often 
as  not  cricketers,  and  sometimes  even  members  of  the 
track  athletic  teams ;  this  year,  for  instance,  C.  B.  Fry,  of 
Wadham  College,  Oxford,  was  the  captain  of  the  Univer- 
sity Association  Football  team,  president  of  the  Univer- 
sity Athletic  Club,  competitor  in  the  hundred  yards,  a 
fast  man  over  the  hurdles,  holder  of  the  English  Uni- 
versity running-broad-jump  record,  and  a  member  of  his 
'varsity  cricket  eleven. 

All  English  university  football  men,  however,  are  not 
Frys. 

The  management  of  the  teams  I  touched  upon  in  the 
first  chapter  of  the  university  series,  which  is,  briefly, 
that  in  most  of  the  colleges  the  athletic  interests  are 
amalgamated  in  one  common  treasury,  from  which  all 
money  is  drawn  for  the  support  of  teams. 


UNIVERSITY   FOOTBALL  191 

The  costumes  of  English  football  men  are  quite  dis- 
similar to  ours,  as  the  illustration  will  show.  They  wear 
breeches  like  our  track  athletes,  a  sleeved  shirt,  and  heavy- 
stockings  that  reach  up  to  but  do  not  cover  the  knee,  and 
it  stirs  an  American  college  man  apprehensively  when  for 
the  first  time  he  sees  a  team  come  on  to  the  field  with 
bared  knees.  The  head-gear  of  the  forwards  looked  more 
natural,  for  I  observed  ear-protectors  were  both  known 
and  appreciated. 

It  is  true  that  our  padded  football  trousers  are  not  a 
necessity  in  their  less  vigorous  game,  but  it  seemed  to  me 
the  Englishmen  could  do  something  for  themselves  by 
adopting  our  canvas  jackets,  as  with  their  loose  jersey 
shirts  a  clean  tackle  is  not  now  an 'absolute  essential. 

Before  I  go  on  to  talk  of  their  form  I  must  tell  how 
curiously  the  indifferent  reception  given  by  the  spectators 
to  the  Oxford  and  Cambridge  university  football  teams,  at 
their  annual  Association  match  at  Queen's,  impressed  me. 
I  am  sure  no  situation  in  which  I  found  myself  on  the. 
entire  trip  seemed  so  strange  as  standing  in  that  crowd  of 
university  men,  all  apparently  keen  on  the  match,  and  yet 
never  a  one  of  them  raising  his  voice  in  a  cheer  Avhen  the 
elevens  came  on  to  the  field.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the 
university  players  received  no  more  greeting  than  do 
our  scrub  elevens  when  they  come  out  to  make  practice 
for  the  'varsity.  I  noticed  this  same  lack  of  enthusiasm 
throughout  all  English  university  athletics.  On  no  occa- 
sion did  I  hear  a  cheer  given  except  at  the  boat-race 
when  each  crew  pulled  away  from  its  landing-stage  for 
the  staked  boats  at  the  starting-point.  Even  down  at 
Oxford  and  Cambridge,  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  during 
their  college  races,  one  never  hears  a  cheer.  There  are 
guttural  murmurs  of  approbation  given  by  the  crowd  of 
college  men  that  run  along  the  banks  with  the  boats;. 


192  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

murmurs  that  rise  and  fall  like  the  vocal  demonstrations 
of  the  conventional  dramatic  stage  mob,  but  they  rarely 
reach  the  point  of  utterance,  or  when  they  do  are  con- 
fined to  repeated  cries  of  "  Well  rowed !"  At  the  football 
match  of  which  I  am  speaking  you  would  hear  "Well 
played,  Oxford !"  or  "  Well  played,  Cambridge !"  but  that 
was  the  limit  of  encouragement.  At  the  athletic  sports, 
*' Well  run !''  or  "  Well  jumped  !"  was  the  vogue,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  more  prevalent  and  general  method  of  ap- 
proval by  hand-clapping.  Throughout  English  university 
athletics  concerted  cheering,  as  we  know  it,  is  absolutely 
unheard,  and,  indeed,  unknown. 

IS'ow  as  to  the  football  play.  Candidly,  I  must  confess 
I  was  disappointed;  probably  I  expected  too  much,  or, 
what  is  more  likely,  perhaps  my  standards  were  too  high. 
Our  own  American  university  game  is  so  superior  in  point 
of  scientific  preparation  and  skilful  play  that  I  felt 
exactly  as  though,  for  instance,  I  had  gone  to  see  the 
Princeton  'varsity  team,  and,  instead,  the  scrub  eleven 
had  been  brought  out  for  my  entertainment.  I  could  not 
help  the  feeling,  as  I  stood  on  the  side  lines,  that  I  was  a 
spectator  of  an  undeveloped  game  —  that  there  were  so 
man}'-  ignored  opportunities.  One  who  knows  American 
football  must,  on  first  seeing  a  Rugby  Union  match,  feel 
he  is  watching  an  elementary  game.  You  recognize  in- 
stantly whence  came  our  advanced  quarter-back  play  and 
the  formation  of  our  forwards  with  the  centre  rusher  in 
full  possession  of  the  ball.  You  appreciate  at  once  how 
this  sort  of  touch-and-go,  haphazard  game  was  the  begin- 
ning of  our  scientifically  developed  play  of  to  day.  After 
seeing  a  great  deal  of  Rugby  Union  football  in  England, 
I  cannot  instance  a  single  feature  of  it  that  approaches 
our  own  game,  and  I  saw  it  played  by  the  universities 
and  bj^  some  of  the  best  outside  teams.     No  matter  how 


UNIVERSITY  FOOTBALL 


193 


well  drilled  the  men  are,  you  feel  they  are  losing  sight  of 
some  of  the  most  interesting  possibilities  of  the  play,  and 
you  can  hardly  restrain  yourself  from  coaching  them, 
then  and  there.  To  begin  with,  it  is  a  slower  game ; 
the  forwards  in  their  scrimmage  seem  to  get  wedged  in 
so  compactly  that  when  the  ball  comes  out  it  takes  them 
an  appreciable  instant  of  time  to  break  up  and  get  into 
the  play.  In  fact,  they  do  not  get  into  the  play,  as  we 
understand  it.     I  have  seen  a  forward  occasionally  get 


out  to  the  side  and  be  up  with  the  ball,  but  it  is  somewhat 
of  a  rare  sight,  except  when  a  team  has  such  exceptional 
players  as  were  the  two  GTurdons  of  Cambridge  a  few 
years  ago.  It  is  usually  the  case  that  the  ball  is  out  and 
in  play  before  the  forwards  have  got  going  at  all. 

The  modus  operandi  of  a  scrimmage,  or  scrummage,  as 
they  call  it,  will  be  interesting  to  Americans.  The  for- 
wards form  practically  a  circle  with  their  heads  down, 
their  arms  not  exactly  interlocked,  but  the  upper  arm 


194  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

in  position  to  hold  the  upper  arm  of  the  vis-d-vis  and  aid 
in  pushing  him ;  the  ball  is  thrown  in  by  the  half-back  of 
the  side  in  possession  of  it  (the  side  which  kicks  out  of 
touch  loses  the  ball) ;  once  thrown  in,  the  forwards  on 
one  side  endeavor  to  shove  their  opponents  down  the  field, 
or,  I  believe,  the  skilful  way  is  to  screw  them  around,  thus 
seeking  an  opportunity  to  get  the  ball  out  at  the  most  ad- 
vantageous point.  In  the  meantime  the  half-backs  are 
watching  for  the  ball  to  come  out  of  the  scrimmage,  and 
the  three  three-quarter-backs  are  just  a  little  behind  the 
halves  and  lined  out  towards  the  side  of  the  field  on 
which  the  play  is  likely  to  go.  Instantly  the  ball  comes 
out  the  three-quarter-backs  get  in  motion,  and  the  half- 
back passes  it  to  the  three-quarter  nearest  him,  who,  if  in 
danger  of  being  tackled,  passes  it  to  the  other  three-quar- 
ter, and  this  one  in  turn  passes  it  to  the  third — the  idea 
in  passing  from  one  to  the  other  being  to  get  well  out  to 
the  side  and  around  the  forwards  and  the  backs  of  the 
opponents,  and  thus  nearer  their  goal.  If  a  back  is  hard 
pushed,  and  has  not  a  chance  to  pass  the  ball,  he  punts  it 
out  of  touch,  and  it  is  then  brought  in  by  the  other  side, 
and  the  scrimmage  begins  again.  With  three  three-quar- 
ter-backs the  half-back  ought,  when  the  ball  comes  out  of 
the  "  scrum,"  to  get  past  his  opposing  half-back,  draw  an 
opposing  three-quarter  on  to  him,  and  then  pass  to  his  own 
three-quarter,  whom  he  has  by  this  time  got  well  into  his 
stride.  AVith  four  three-quarter-backs  he  has  seldom  time 
or  room  to  do  this. 

The  skill  of  this  game  is  supposed  to  rest  largely  in 
clever  passing.  I  had  expected  a  great  deal  from  it,  having 
been  led  to  understand  that  it  was  too  clever  for  any 
tackling,  but  I  am  disposed  to  disagree  with  English  foot- 
ball men  over  their  faith  in  this  style  of  game.  The 
passing  is  clever — of  that  there  is  no  doubt ;  and  it  is 


UNIVERSITY  FOOTBALL  195 

equally  certain  that  it  is  too  clever  for  the  kind  of  tack- 
ling they  do  in  England ;  but  I  am  quite  sure  that  their 
passing  would  not  be  very  effective  against  our  tackling. 
Its  effectiveness  seems  to  me  to  be  largely  due  to  the 
slowness  of  the  men  in  getting  into  the  play.  It  is 
well  enough  to  be  able  to  pass  the  ball  from  one  three- 
quarter -back  to  the  other  if  only  there  is  one  opponent 
who  has  been  fast  enough  to  closely  follow  it,  but  I  need 
not  tell  American  university  men  that  such  a  condition 
could  not  exist  with  our  football  players  in  the  game,  for 
with  their  rapidity  of  getting  into  a  play  every  one  of 
those  three  -  quarter-backs  would  certainly  have  down  on 
him  one  determined  tackier,  who  would  not  be  likely  to 
give  the  back  a  chance  to  pass  the  ball.  The  slowness 
(as  compared  with  our  game),  therefore,  of  the  men  get- 
ting into  the  play  I  consider  to  explain  why  the  passing 
is  so  successful  in  the  Rugby  Union  game.  And  apropos 
of  slowness,  in  a  match  I  saw  between  the  Oxford  univer- 
sity eleven  and  a  strong  club  team,  one  of  the  Oxford 


4-¥;:k\r%:  *'M 


\^  \\i^\ 


<^'^^i&^^^^ 


PUTTING    THE    BALL    IN    PLAY    FROM    SIDE    LINES    IN    RUGBY    DNION 

The  line-up  in  Association  is  practically  the  same 


196  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

backs  sat  on  the  side  lines  for  several  minutes  mending 
a  shoelace  while  the  pla}'-  went  on!  There  was  no  call- 
ing of  time. 

Of  their  getting  down  the  field  under  kicks,  I  can  only 
say  it  is  excessively  slow.  Certainly  their  off-side  rule 
makes  the  play  slower  than  with  us,  for  a  man  may  not 
go  ahead  of  the  ball,  and  is  not  allowed  to  get  within  five 
yards  of  the  opposing  half-back  on  his  catch,  but,  even  so, 
they  waste  many  an  opportunity  of  gaining  ground  by 
going  to  the  other  extreme. 

Their  tackling  does  not  compare  with  ours.  In  the  first 
place,  it  is  high.  Occasionally  you  will  see  a  man  down 
his  opponent  at  the  knees,  but  usually  he  gets  him  about 
the  upper  part  of  his  body,  and  quite  frequently  around 
his  neck.  Nor  do  they  bring  their  man  down  when  they 
tackle  him.  One  player  riding  another's  back  in  an  un- 
skilful effort  to  bring  him  to  earth  was  rather  a  fre- 
quent sight  on  my  pilgrimage.  They  appear  to  know 
nothing  whatever  of  the  science  of  tackling,  as  we  have 
perfected  it. 

Perhaps  what  impressed  me  most  in  the  Oxford  and 
Cambridge  fifteens  was  the,  to  my  mind,  lack  of  what  we 
consider  'varsity  form.  There  was  a  great  deal  of  fum- 
bling, and  I  could  easily  have  picked  out  three  or  four 
men  that  I  should  not  have  cared  to  have  on  a  second 
team.  Then,  again,  the  men  do  not  "  go  into  "  the  play 
just  as  our  men  do.  You  see  many  a  yard  gained  that 
could  have  been  stopped  by  a  determined  tackle.  They 
do  not  seem  to  have  the  resolution  of  our  football  men, 
and  the  gaining  of  a  few  yards  appears  not  to  be  of  so 
much  moment,  which  of  course  is  explained  somewhat  by 
the  difference  of  our  games,  for  the  Rugby  Union  field 
is  not  marked  up  in  five-yard  lines  like  ours  (it  has  only 
a  line  at  twenty-five  yards  from  each  goal-line,  and  one 


PUTTING    THE    BALL    IN    PLAY RUGI 


in  the  centre),  and  they  are  not  obliged  to  gain  five  yards 
or  lose  possession  of  the  ball.  There  is  no  rule  laid  down 
as  to  how  many  yards  they  should  gain.  They  keep  the 
ball  as  long  as  they  can,  whether  they  gain  or  lose,  but  it 
changes  hands  quite  frequently,  for,  as  I  have  said,  when 
a  man  is  about  to  be  tackled,  and  does  not  see  a  good  op- 
portunity of  passing,  he  kicks  into  touch. 

The  English  and  the  American  Eugby  games  are  radi- 
cally different,  insomuch  as  in  the  former  all  plays  are 
more  or  less  haphazard,  whereas  in  the  latter  they  are 
the  result  of  previous  study — the  ball  is  put  in  play  by  a 
system  of  signals,  and  every  man  has  a  clearly  defined 
duty  to  perform  in  carrying  it  to  a  successful  issue.  To 
be  sure,  in  the  English  game  there  is  a  certain  definite 
idea  of  the  best  means  to  the  desired  end,  and  a  general 
scheme  of  the  manner  to  attain  it.  The  half-back  knows 
when  he  gets  the  ball  out  of  the  "  scrum "  that  he  is  to 
pass  it  to  the  three-quarter,  and  the  three-quarter  under- 
stands that  he  is  to  run  with  it  until  he  is  likely  to  be 
stopped,  and  then  pass  it  to  another  three-quarter,  and 
if  fortune  favors  them  they  hope  to  get  down  to  the 
enemy's  goal,  and,  failing  in  that,  to  punt  the  ball  into 
touch ;  but  that,  so  far  as  I  could  make  out,  is  the  begin- 


198  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

ning  and  end  of  the  system.  When  the  play  starts  off 
it  comes  very  near  being  a  case  of  "every  man  for  him- 
self, and  the  devil  take  the  hindmost." 

The  full-back  has  rather  a  dull  time  of  it,  for  he  does 
not  play  up  as  our  full-back  does,  and  this  year  there  has 
been  some  attempt,  though  it  has  not  been  received  with 
universal  favor,  to  put  him  even  more  out  of  touch  with 
the  general  play  by  increasing  the  number  of  three-quar- 
ter-backs to  four. 

It  is  not  exactly  my  mission  to  criticise,  since  whatever 
developments  they  make  can  never  affect  our  play  one 
way  or  the  other ;  but,  as  my  impressions  are  from  an 
American  point  of  view,  so  my  criticisms  must  likewise  be 
considered.  It  appeared  to  me  that  the  Englishmen  have 
not  done  so  much  with  their  game  as  they  might ;  and  it 
seems,  too,  that  they  are  making  a  great  mistake  in  laying 
such  stress  on  passing.  In  watching  their  play,  I  noticed 
this  feature  absorbed  all  the  attention  of  the  players,  and 
that  every  other  was  really  of  secondary  consideration. 

It  is  obviously  true  that,  as  all  efforts  are  concentrated 
on  passing,  players  attach  less  importance  to  tackling, 
practice  it  less,  and  the  average  of  the  tackling  skill  be- 
comes proportionately  lowered.  I  say  fraidvly  that  I  was 
exceedingly  astonished  at  the  poor  quality  of  tackling,  and, 
in  my  opinion,  the  great  predominance  of  passing  is  direct- 
ly responsible  for  it.  The  average  English  football  player 
is  firmly  convinced  that  his  passing  game  is  too  clever  for 
any  tackling  game,  though  I  endeavored  to  explain  to 
some  of  them  that  it  would  not  live  a  natural  life  against 
the  sharp  tackling  of  the  American  player,  and  I  dare  say 
nothing  short  of  practical  demonstration  will  shake  his 
faith  in  it.  I  am  quite  sure  an  American  university  foot- 
ball eleven,  with  a  single  season's  practice,  would  work 
disaster  with  a  Rugby  Union  team  devoted  to  passing. 


UNIVERSITY  FOOTBALL  199 

And  still  another  of  what  seem  to  me  to  be  evils  of  the 
prevalence  of  passing  is  the  likelihood  of  its  making  a 
very  inferior  sort  of  game  on  a  wet  day ;  for  in  order  to 
pass  successfully  and  cleverly  men  must  keep  their  feet, 
and  if  it  happen  to  be  a  muddy,  slippery  field,  the  stand- 
ard of  play  is  so  materially  lowered  as  to  bring  a  team 
from  first-class  to  mediocre. 

Earlier  in  this  chapter  I  said  there  was  no  single  feat- 
ure of  the  Eugby  Union  game  worthy  of  recommenda- 
tion in  America,  but  as  I  write  it  comes  to  me  that  there 
is  no  "  slogging,"  and  their  play  is  particularly  free  of 
"roughing."  In  all  the  games  I  witnessed  in  not  one 
did  I  see  the  slightest  attempt  at  anything  savoring  of 
slogging.  Indeed,  I  am  told  the  written  and  unwritten 
law  on  the  subject  is  extremely  severe,  and  that  the  trans- 
gressor would  not  only  be  ruled  off  the  field  for  that 
game,  but  stand  a  good  chance  of  being  ruled  off  for  the 
season.  Of  course  I  am  alluding  now  to  the  universities ; 
of  the  general  play  outside  the  universities  it  is  another 
matter,  although  Rugby  Union  is  much  freer  of  unneces- 
sary roughness  than  our  game  as  it  is  oftentimes  played. 

Of  Association  football  there  is  little  to  say  that  would 
interest  an  American,  for  as  university  men  we  ceased 
playing  it  many  years  ago ;  but  I  noticed  there  has  been 
very  little  improvement  in  the  play  since  I  captained  my 
prep.-school  eleven  away  back  in  1874  and  '75.  Of  course 
dribbling  has  been  carried  to  a  more  scientific  point,  which 
is  merely  the  perfection  of  longer  practice,  but  beyond  the 
use  of  the  head,  which  has  become  so  much  a  feature  that 
skill  in  this  direction  cuts  quite  a  figure  in  the  player's  gen- 
eral qualifications,  I  could  not  discover  any  innovations  of 
especial  skill.  The  head  is  used  as  they  use  their  feet — to 
receive  the  ball  on  a  kick  and  butt  it  in  the  desired  direc- 
tion— and  might,  indeed,  aptly  be  called  the  third  leg. 


200  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

The  costumes  of  the  men  are  the  same  as  in  Eugby, 
with  the  exception  that  they  wear  no  head-gear,  for  of 
course  there  is  no  tackhng,  the  use  of  the  shoulder  only 
being  permitted,  and  no  scrimmage. 

Although  not  so  popular  in  the  universities  as  Kugby 
Union,  yet  to  me  it  was  more  interesting,  for  the  drib- 
bling of  the  ball  down  the  field  requires  a  great  deal  of 
skill,  and  gives  an  opportunity  for  very  clever  work. 
Probably  its  greater  interest  for  me  is  explained  by  the 
fact  that,  as  I  watched  Rugby  Union  (always  making 
mental  comparisons  with  our  own),  I  never  could  shake 
off  the  feeling  of  looking  on  a  game,  that  had  been  neg- 
lected from  infanc}^ 

It  is  not  my  province  here  to  go  into  the  English  foot- 
ball rules  and  give  an  exhaustive  explanation  of  the  games, 
I  am  touching  only  such  points  as  are  considered  interest- 
ing to  American  players.  It  is  only  necessary  to  say  for 
the  understanding  of  Americans  that  in  Association  the 
hands  are  not  used  at  all,  and  there  is  no  running  with  the 
ball.  It  is  a  game  consisting  exclusively  of  dribbling,  and 
the  ball  may  be  handled  (except  by  the  goal-keeper)  only 
when  it  has  been  kicked  into  touch ;  then  the  sides  line 
up,  and  it  is  thrown  in  by  a  player  on  the  "  opposite  side 
of  that  which  kicked  it  out,  who,  facing  the  field  of  play, 
shall  throw  the  ball  over  his  head  in  any  direction." 
There  is  a  pretence,  of  course,  in  throwing  a  ball  from  the 
side  lines,  to  place  it  advantageously  for  your  own  team, 
but  the  opposing  side  is  more  often  than  not  just  as  apt 
to  get  hold  of  it.  In  Rugby  the  ball  may  also  be  thrown 
in  from  the  side  lines  instead  of  being  put  in  play  by  a 
scrimmage,  and  when  this  method  is  chosen  the  players 
line  up  about  the  same  as  in  Association,  but  the  ball  must 
be  thrown  in  "  so  as  to  alight  at  right  angles  to  the  touch 
line." 


UNIVERSITY   FOOTBALL 


201 


# 


Match  play  is  governed  by  a  referee,  whose  duties  are 
similar  to  those  of  ours,  and  by  two  umpires — one  for  each 
side— who  carry  flags,  with  which  they  signal  when  and 
where  the  ball  goes  into  touch,  and  who  are  touch-line 
judges  only. 

As  may  be  supposed,  in  games  where  the  element  of 
chance  cuts  so  large  a  figure,  and  where  plays  are  not  the 
result  of  previous  planning,  coaching  amounts  to  a  mini- 
mum. In  Rugby  Union  it  is  expended  chiefly  on  the  three- 
quarter-backs,  whose  passing  to  be  most  successful  should 
be  the  result  of  team-work.  In  Association  coaching  is 
largely  devoted  to  the  forwards,  where,  in  dribbling,  team- 
work is  also  necessary,  and  I  should 
say  this  game  required  more  team- 
work and  more  coaching  than  the 
Rugb}^  Union,  but  neither  one  of 
them  receives  a  great  deal  of  it. 

They  do  not  approach  that  sys- 
tematic coaching  and  drilling  given 
our  teams ;  in  fact,  their  style  of 
play  does  not  require  it.  Some 
'varsity  player  who  happens  to  be 
in  residence  at  the  time  takes  them 
in  hand,  but  more  often  it  devolves 
upon  the  captain,  and  the  general 
preparation  of  English  university 
football  men  consists  largely  of 
what  practice  play  they  have  on  "heading" 

their    own   fields    against    outside 

teams.  This  is,  in  fact,  the  best  practice  work  they  get, 
for  with  the  many  teams  in  England  it  must  be  under- 
stood that  the  average  of  general  play  is  pretty  high. 

Association  university  elevens  are  not  so  good  as  some 
of  the  club  teams,  and  never  up  to  the  standard  of  the 


202  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

professionals.  The  university  Rugby  Union  fifteen  is 
usually  the  strongest  in  England,  with  the  possible  ex- 
ception of  Yorkshire,  though  it  is  not  uncommon  for  Ox- 
ford or  Cambridge  to  be  scored  against,  and  it  is  quite 
usual  for  them  to  continue  playing  outside  teams  some 
time  after  they  have  decided  the  inter-university  match, 
which  differs  materially  from  our  system,  and  seems 
not  so  good,  since  it  makes  a  series  of  anticlimaxes  where 
there  is  nothing  to  gain  and  everything  to  lose. 

There  is  not  the  same  chance  of  bruising  a  man  in 
Rugby  Union  as  there  is  in  our  game,  but  there  is  in- 
finitely more  danger  in  the  Association,  where,  when 
players  meet  on  a  ball  and  attempt  to  kick  it  in  different 
directions,  broken  legs  may  result,  besides  the  further 
danger,  entirely  unknown  to  our  game,  of  kicking  a  man 
in  the  head  or  body. 

Altogether,  after  a  careful  study  of  English  football,  I 
am  more  devoted  than  ever  to  the  American  game,  more 
firmly  convinced  of  its  exceptionally  good  qualities,  its 
skill,  its  ruggedness,  and  its  demand  on  brain  and  brawn. 


VIII 

CLUB  FOOTBALL 

When  I  say  that  Oxfordsliire,  with  a  population  of 
about  186,000,  supports  upwards  of  one  hundred  teams, 
some  idea  may  be  gained  of  tlie  popularity  of  football  in 
England — a  popularity  so  wide-spread,  in  fact,  as  to  be 
the  most  obstinate  thorn  in  the  flesh  of  the  two  governing 
bodies,  or,  rather,  in  that  of  one  of  them  —  Rugby  —  since 
the  Association  seems  long  ago  to  have  given  up  the  fight 
for  purity  and  decency  in  the  sport  it  is  alleged  to  direct. 
So  rapid  and  so  far-reaching  has  been  the  popularization 
of  the  game  in  the  last  decade,  that  it  has  ceased  to  be 
mere  recreation,  and  become,  instead,  a  commercial  specu- 
lation, particularly  in  the  more  flourishing  Association 
centres,  where  regular  limited  -  liability  companies  live 
and  prosper,  with  football  as  their  sole  raison  tVHre. 
These  companies  own  grounds,  maintain  teams,  arrange 
matches,  pocket  the  gate  receipts,  pay  the  players,  and 
altogether  are  organized  for  business  on  a  business  basis, 
to  make  trading  in  football-players  as  profitable  as  they 
would  have  it  in  cattle  or  groceries. 

And  yet  this  Association,  which  proclaims  itself  ama- 
teur, countenances  it  all.  Fancy  !  And  it  is  this  class 
of  football-players  that  is  now  loudly  knocking  for  ad- 
mittance on  the  door  of  the  Rugby  Union,  and  to  whom 
many  thoughtless  people  are  urging  the  Union  to  open, 
and  follow  the  example  of  the  Association  in  legalizing 
what  it  cannot  exterminate.     These  unthinking  ones  put 


204  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

forth  the  weak  argument  that  Rugby  is  losing  prestige 
because  of  its  persistent  refusal  to  let  down  the  bars  to 
professionalism;  that  in  declining  to  permit  payment 
of  players  it  is  narrowing  its  recruiting-tield  by  turning 
all  that  lower  element  which  breeds  this  class  over  to  the 
Association. 

That  Association  football  has  outpaced  Rugby  of  late 
years  in  popularity  among  the  masses  is  perfectly  true, 
but  who  that  has  made  a  careful  study  of  the  situa- 
tion will  declare  the  growth  healthful  or  the  Associa- 
tion to  be  envied  ?  From  the  very  day  the  Association, 
yielding  unwisely  to  a  pressure  it .  had  not  the  courage 
and  good  sense  to  withstand,  opened  its  ranks  to  profes- 
sionalism, it  has  been  declining  in  tone  and  in  healthful, 
vigorous  growth.  As  rapidly  as  the  game  has  spread 
among  the  masses,  so  rapidly  has  it  been  dropped  by 
amateurs,  until  to-day  there  is  probably  not  a  single 
amateur  club  playing  the  Association  game  in  the  north 
of  England  or  the  Midlands,  while,  with  rare  exceptions, 
it  is  in  disrepute  everywhere. 

And  what  has  the  professional  done  for  Association 
football  in  return  for  being  taken  into  the  fold  ?  He  has 
given  it  great  popularity  among  his  kind,  a  popularity 
which,  like  a  flash  in  the  pan,  will  die  away  as  quickly 
as  it  flamed,  once  deprived  of  artificial  kindling ;  he  has 
killed  the  game  so  far  as  amateurs  are  concerned,  and  in- 
fested it  instead  with  a  depravity  as  deep-rooted  as  it  is 
far-reaching ;  he  has,  in  fine,  vitiated  the  football  atmos- 
phere of  the  British  Kingdom.  One  may  Avell  ask.  Has 
the  game  been  worth  the  candle  ( 

How  he  came  to  gain  admittance  reads  curiously 
enough.  It  was  claimed  for  football,  just  as  it  is  being 
claimed  now  for  rowing  by  some  who,  strangely,  indeed, 
seem  unable  to  profit  by  ex])erience,  that  in  the  matter  of 


CLUB  FOOTBALL  207 

sport  it  was  not  democratic  to  draw  distinctions  between 
the  lower  and  higher  elements  of  society  ;  that  admitting 
the  lower  to  the  games  of  the  higher  meant  popularization, 
and  that  it  would  be  only  fair,  and  not  harmful,  to  permit 
adequate  compensation  for  those  players  who  could  not 
afford  to  give  the  time  to  sport. 

Ah  me  !  what  a  headlong  scamper  after  the  shadow  ! 

Is  it  not  wondrous  that,  with  generations  of  experience 
to  be  had  for  the  reading,  such  illusive  argument  could — 
yes,  can,  to  this  very  day — make  converts  ?  Is  it  conceit  or 
ignorance  that  impels  us  to  experiment  where  there  are 
no  new  lessons  to  learn,  if  we  would  but  profit  by  the  ex- 
perience of  others  ?  Are  not,  indeed,  conceit  and  ignorance 
synonymous  ? — but  I  am  straying  from  the  subject,  and  if 
I  may  be  pardoned  for  this  bit  of  mind  vs.  matter,  I'll 
turn  from  psychological  digression  to  practical  argument. 

It  is  absolutely  true  that,  wherever  or  whenever  an  ele- 
ment enters  sport  for  profit,  corruption  is  certain  to  fol- 
low. Will  any  one  tell  me  of  one  game  which  professionals 
have  dominated  that  has  not,  starting  out  with  a  boom, 
ended  in  final  decay,  after  a  life  of  corruption  and  scandal  ? 
How  runs  the  history  of  professional  foot-racing,  boating, 
and  pugilism?  How  that  of  our  so-called  national  game 
of  baseball,  which  came  so  near  collapse  through  the  in- 
trusion of  greed  and  corruption,  and  the  popularity  of 
which  has  never  since  reached  the  point  it  once  enjoyed 
before  our  faith  in  its  integrity  had  been  shaken  ?  "Why 
is  it  that  even  horse-racing,  with  its  government  partly  in 
the  hands  of  gentlemen,  has  degenerated  to  a  mere  gam- 
bling-machine, while  Association  football  in  England  has 
gone  the  same  way,  and  racing  bicycling,  in  both  Eng- 
land and  America,  is  fast  reaching  a  similar  condition,  if 
it  is  not  that  money,  and  not  sport,  has  been  the  moving 
spirit  in  every  instance  ? 


208  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

And  SO  long  and  so  sure  as  grass  grows  and  water  runs, 
just  so  long  and  so  sure  will  the  result  be  identical. 

Must  we,  then,  give  over  all  our  sport  outside  of  the 
schools  and  universities  to  professionals  to  run  its  scan- 
dalous course  until  overtaken  by  collapse  and  disgrace  ? 
Is  the  w^orship  of  the  almighty  dollar  to  obtain  in  recrea- 
tion as  it  does  in  trade?  Shall  the  man  who  plays  foot- 
ball, or  runs,  or  rides  a  bicycle  for  money  have  preference 
in  our  support  over  the  one  who  plays  for  the  love  of  it  ? 

No  sophistry  can  be  more  harmful  than  that  which 
suggests,  as  a  means  of  developing  sport,  the  encourage- 
ment of  the  professional  to  the  detriment  of  the  amateur. 
"What  is  more  absurd  than  the  argument,  advanced  for 
the  benefit  of  the  lower  element,  that  the  man  who  can- 
not afford  the  time  to  play  should  be  compensated  for 
such  loss?  Why  should  any  man  be  paid  for  the  time  he 
loses  from  his  business  ?  Why  should  such  a  one  play  at 
all?  There  are  plenty  just  as  good  that  have  the  time. 
And  wh}^,  if  compensation  is  in  order,  should  only  the 
lower  element  be  considered  ?  There  are  hundreds  of 
young  men  graduated  every  year  from  our  universities 
who,  if  they  were  cads  enough  to  permit  of  being  "  ap- 
proached" by  athletic  "managers,"  would  perform  quite 
as  well,  and  certainly  be  a  more  acceptable  lot  to  spec- 
tators. But,  thank  Heaven,  the  college  man,  as  a  class, 
remains  an  amateur  and  a  gentleman  ! 

And  what  drivelling  talk  is  all  this  that  prates  of  ignor- 
ing the  poor  "laborer" — as  if  we  were  not  all  laborers  in 
this  work-a-day  world— and  wants  to  drag  him  into  our 
sport,  putting  him  under  restrictions  with  which  he  has 
no  sympathy,  and  paying  him  for  the  time  he  may  lose 
from  his  trade  I  What  sporting  "  Coxeyism  "  is  this  that 
has  neither  rhyme  nor  reason  to  warrant  its  serious  con- 
sideration by  intelligent  mankind  ? 


CLUB   FOOTBALL  209 

The  onh^  wholesome  way  to  develop  sport  is  to  encour- 
age amateurs,  not  by  bands  of  travelling  star  performers, 
but  by  local  stimulus;  and  the  only  basis  upon  which 
sport  will  ever  remain  firm  and  healthful  is  that  of  hon- 
esty, and  sport  for  sport's  sake  only. 

Those  who  call  me  a  crank  on  the  subject  I  ask  to  watch 
the  career  of  racing  bicycling  in  America  the  coming  two 
years,  meanwhile  thinking  of  what  was  prophesied  for 
athletics  a  few  years  ago  by  the  same  crank. 

The  Rugbv  Union  deserves  the  greatest  credit  for  with- 
standing the  influences  brought  to  bear  towards  its  rec- 


A    BRADFORP    CLUB    FOOTBALL    CROWD 


ognition  of  professionalism.  It  has  suffered  somewhat 
maybe  in  the  popular  eye,  but  it  has  continued  to  prosper, 
and,  more  than  all,  it  has  retained  the  respect  and  admira- 
tion of  all  English  sportsmen.  However,  despite  its  good 
intentions  and  its  discountenancing  of  all  attempts  to  pay 
players,  a  certain  professional  taint  has  crept  in  among 
the  lower  classes  that  play  the  game  in  some  sections  of 
England.  Where  the  football  spirit  is  keen,  men  who 
could  ill  afford  several  months  of  idleness  in  their  trade 
unless  compensated  are  found  playing  on  club  teams  and 

14 


210  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

remaining  in  training  throughout  the  season,  and  the  ob- 
vious conclusion  is  that  such  are  practically  supported  by 
the  large  clubs,  of  which  there  are  a  number,  organized 
for  business  pure  and  simple.  It  looks  as  though  the 
Union  would  eventually  be  obliged  to  give  up  attempting 
to  reclaim  the  great  unwashed,  and  leave  them  to  go 
their  way,  while  it  went  back  to  the  definition  that  has 
kept  rowing  (next  to  cricket)  the  cleanest  sport  in  Eng- 
land. 

There  are  such  an  infinite  number  of  football  clubs  in 
Great  Britain  that  it  would  take  quite  a  volume  to  chron- 
icle them  all ;  but,  as  in  athletics,  a  few  only  own  grounds, 
and  fewer  yet  have  club-houses.  Those  that  have  fields  are 
of  the  limited-liability  class,  which  throw  open  their  gates 
to  football,  cricket,  athletics,  or  whatever  attracts  gate 
money  enough  to  make  the  venture  profitable,  but  only 
rarely  have  these  companies  maintained  a  team  of  their 
own.  The  largest  is  the  Huddersfield  Cricket,  Football, 
and  Athletic  Club,  which  has  three  enclosed  fields,  and 
pays  dividends  to  its  members ;  and  next  in  importance  is, 
probably,  the  Bradford  Club,  which  has  a  cricket  and  foot- 
ball field,  and  is  one  of  the  few  with  a  club-house.  Black- 
heath,  the  oldest  Eugby  club  in  England,  rents  grounds, 
and  has  provision  for  cricket  and  lawn -tennis  as  well; 
the  London  -  Scottish,  also  Eugby,  rents  its  grounds,  as 
do  also  the  largest  clubs  in  Liverpool,  Manchester,  Sal- 
ford  (all  Eugby),  and  Birmingham  (Association).  The 
London  Athletic  Club  has  no  team ;  it  had  a  Eugby  fif- 
teen, but  gave  it  up  several  years  ago.  In  Association, 
clubs  of  all  sorts  and  kinds  are  constantly  springing 
into  existence,  each  a  breeding-den  of  strife,  and  every 
one  trying,  by  bribery  and  by  every  other  foul  means,  to 
outdo  the  other.  In  order  to  check  this  migration  of 
players  from  one  club  to  another,  the  Association  has  been 


CLUB  FOOTBALL  211 

obliged  to  inaugurate  a  system  like  the  one  which  obtains 
in  our  professional  baseball  leagues.  Each  club  puts  a 
price  on  every  one  of  its  men,  according  to  his  value, 
and  no  one  of  them  may  be  transferred  to  another  club 
without  its  paying  to  that  player's  club  the  sum  set 
against  his  name.  Thus,  for  instance,  John  Brown  is 
valued  at  £100,  and  the  club  that  wants  to  enlist  his  ser- 
vices must  first  pay  that  amount  to  the  organization  to 
which  he  belongs. 

Association  clubs  play  one  against  the  other  for  the 
county  championships,  the  successful  ones  deciding  the 
supremacy  in  a  further  series  of  cup  ties ;  and  from  the 
winning  teams  in  these  ultimate  results  the  International 
elevens  are  chosen,  on  which  are  frequently  university 
men,  though  they  are  becoming  fewer  every  year.  Kugby 
Union,  generally  speaking,  is  not  predisposed  to  cup  ties, 
experience  having  shown  that  they  did  not  work  to  the 
most  healthful  encouragement  of  the  game ;  but  they  re- 
main in  vogue  in  Yorkshire  and  in  the  Midlands,  and  un- 
fortunately in  some  other  counties  too.  There  is,  there- 
fore, no  actual  championship  trophy  or  round  in  Kugby 
Union  as  in  Association,  and  the  international  matches 
with  Ireland,  Scotland,  and  Wales  are  the  great  features 
of  its  season.  Many  counties  that  formerly  played  Rugby 
have  gone  over  to  professionalism  and  the  Association. 

The  club  match  is  really  the  life  of  Rugby,  and,  outside 
Oxford  and  Cambridge,  the  most  interesting  games  of 
the  year  are  between  the  Richmond,  Blackheath,  and 
London-Scottish  clubs,  all  of  which  play  the  universities ; 
while  in  the  north  the  Bradford  and  Manchester  clubs 
are  considered  to  furnish  the  best  sport.  In  the  south 
the  Oxford-Cambridge-London  match  usually  determines 
the  best  team,  while  in  the  north  Yorkshire  is  the  ac- 
cepted power. 


212  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

Yorkshire,  indeed,  where  they  do  have  cup  ties  and  a 
championship,  which,  however,  some  of  the  best  clubs 
do  not  enter,  is  generally  acknowledged  to  turn  out  the 
strongest  team  next  to  Oxford  and  Cambridge.  Besides 
being  the  biggest  county  in  England,  it  is  the  great 
Rugby  centre,  and  the  people  are  so  very  keen  that  its 
gates  are  the  largest  of  all  amateur  teams. 

Although  professionalism  has  practically  killed  the 
amateur  in  Association  football,  the  desire  for  a  purer 
condition  is  shown  by  the  recent  organization  of  a  dis- 
tinctive amateur  body.  The  taint,  however,  seems  to 
cling  to  it,  for  when  in  England  I  heard  of  one  club  that 
had  offered  to  '^  scratch "  for  a  consideration  (surely  a 
curious  suggestion  for  an  amateur  club) ;  while  in  a  game 
under  the  new  Association's  auspices  the  referee  was  so 
roughly  handled  after  a  decision  that  his  clothes  were 
literally  torn  off  him,  and  a  half-back  who  went  to  his 
defence  was  knocked  senseless  by  a  rap  on  the  head  with 
a  stick.  Notwithstanding  this  poor  beginning,  there  is 
considerable  agitation  in  England  over  the  desirability  of 
a  body  that  will  maintain  strictly  amateur  Association 
football,  and  a  determination  that  there  shall  be  a  reform 
from  present  methods,  and  a  union  of  amateur  clubs  that 
will  provide  sport  somewhat  on  university  lines. 

Despite  the  gates  at  the  matches  of  the  professional 
teams,  which  run  from  $6000  to  $12,000,  with  entrance 
fees  at  sixpence  to  one  shilling  jper  ca])ita^  the  clubs  are 
nearly  all  in  debt,  because  of  the  large  salaries  paid  play- 
ers, and  it  looks  to  me  very  much  as  if  professional  football 
in  Great  Britain  were  rapidly  going  the  way  that  profes- 
sional baseball  went  with  us  a  few  years  ago,  as  a  result 
of  artificial  propagation,  extravagant  salaries,  and  general 
depravity.  Their  games  are  very  rough,  and  not  infre- 
quently break  u])  in  a  general  melee ;  a  match  I  attended, 


between  a  club  and  Army  Association  team,  ended  in  a 
free  fight,  the  soldier  spectators  using  their  belts  so  elTec- 
tively  as  to  necessitate  a  call  for  doctors  and  police. 

Such  scenes  are  not  witnessed  in  Kugby,  where  the 
ruling  on  rough  play  is  severe,  and  the  referee  respected. 
A  player  may  be  warned  or  ordered  off  the  field  for  a 
first  offence,  but  for  a  second,  in  addition  to  being  ruled 
off,  he  is  reported  to  the  Union. 

The  Midlands  and  Lancashire  are  the  centres  of  Asso- 
ciation football,  but  within  the  Association  again  is  a 
league  comprised  of  fourteen  of  the  best  professional 
clubs  in  the  north,  which  play  home -and -home  games, 
and  legislatively  and  every  other  way  is  quite  as  powerful 
as  the  alleged  governing  body. 

Scotland  has  been  until  very  recently  the  recruiting- 
ground  for  the  English  professional  teams,  but  the  Scot- 
tish Association  not  long  ago  legalized  professionalism, 
and  thereby  not  only  insured  the  strength  of  their  future 
teams,  but  narrowed  the  Englisli  field  of  supply. 

In  the  foregoing  chapter  I  have  shown  that,  after  the 
first  general  wave  of  football  had  spent  its  force,  the  ]iub- 
lic  schools  of  England  taught  the  game,  and  old  school- 
boys and  university  men  created  clubs. 


214  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

Before  the  Union  came  into  being  the  Blackheath  Club, 
formed  in  1857,  and  the  Kichmond  Club,  organized  in  the 
early  sixties,  occupied  the  attention  of  enthusiasts,  and 
their  matches  were  the  most  keenly  followed  of  the  day. 

But  there  was  in  fact  very  little  of  Kugby  so  early  as 
the  sixties,  not  more  than  a  score  of  clubs  about  London 
all  told,  and  hardly  any  in  the  provinces,  except  Lancashire 
and  Yorkshire,  which  furnished  some  of  the  players  in 
the  first  international  match  with  Scotland  in  1871.  That 
there  is  nothing  new  in  the  world  seems  to  be  verified 
even  by  sporting  research,  for  I  found  that,  well  back  in 
the  sixties,  the  old  Blackheath  Club  had  played  a  primi- 
tive interference  game,  which  we  have  developed  with 
such  consummate  skill,  their  forwards  charging  down  the 
field  in  defence  of  the  half-back  running  behind  them 
with  the  ball ;  it  was  a  winning  play  too.  and  gave  many 
a  victory  before  it  was  finally  disallowed. 

The  Rugby  Union  was  organized  in  the  early  part  of 
1871,  with  E.  C.  Holmes,  captain  of  the  Richmond  team, 
in  the  chair,  whose  club,  together  Avith  the  Blackheath 
and  the  Civil  Service  clubs,  was  the  most  important  of 
the  original  members,  though  Scotland  should  not  be  for- 
o-otten  as  having  furnished  three  of  the  first  thirty-three 
clubs. 

For  some  years  previous  to  this  there  had  been  at- 
tempts to  codify  the  rules,  but  the  existence  of  so  many 
different  styles  of  play  made  compilation  a  matter  of  time 
and  patience. 

Previous  to  such  defining,  the  Rugby  and  Association 
o-ames  were  more  or  less  analogous,  but  with  the  organi- 
zation of  the  latter  in  '63,  followed  by  the  former  in  '71, 
the  two  began  to  drift  apart  until  they  reached  the  en- 
tirely dissimilar  conditions  of  play  that  exist  to-day.  At 
first  the  Union  had  jurisdiction  over  the  entire  British 


CLUB  FOOTBALL  215 

Kingdom,  but  as  the  football  interest  developed  it  was 
found  the  one  body  did  not  answer,  and  in  '73,  '75,  and 
'80  Scotland,  Ireland,  and  Wales  formed  unions  of  their 
own.  At  this  time  twenty  were  a  team,  and  contests 
consisted  chieiiy  of  compact  scrimmages  and  wearisome 
slioving  matches.  This  number  of  players  continued  until 
'77,  when,  at  the  instance  of  Scotland,  it  was  officially 
decreased  to  fifteen  (though  Oxford  had  begun  playing 
fifteen  in  '74  and  in  '75,  with  Cambridge  agreed  to  that 
number  for  their  inter-'varsity  matches),  leading  instant!}^ 
to  a  more  open  style  of  play.  This,  togetlier  with  increas- 
ing the  number  of  three-quarter-backs  to  their  present 
number  of  three,  followed  by  the  inauguration  of  the 
system  of  passing  that  is  so  great  a  feature  of  the  game 
to-day,  constitutes  two  of  the  very  few  improvements 
that  have  been  made  in  Eugbv  Union  football.  Passino- 
was  first  brought  into  prominence  by  the  Blackheath 
Club,  though  it  was  not  until  '82  that  the  Oxford  team 
developed  the  long-passing  now  prevalent. 

During  the  shoving  age,  hacking,  tripping,  and  scrag- 
ging, the  last  being  a  very  effective  if  not  pleasing  method 
of  making  the  opponent  cry  "  down"  by  twisting  his  neck, 
were  prominent  and  im])ortant  features,  though  abolished 
with  the  limit  at  fifteen  players  and  the  beginning  of 
looser  play  ;  but  the  penalty  of  a  free  kick  for  off-side 
play  was  not  adopted  until  '88. 

Although  the  forwards  were  having  a  pretty  hard  time 
of  it  during  this  shoving  period,  the  half-backs  enjoyed 
opportunities  for  brilliant  play  they  have  never  since  had, 
for  about  all  the  "  gallery  "  work  fell  upon  them  before 
the  rise  into  prominence  of  the  three-quarter-back.  The 
halves  stood  farther  back  of  the  scrimmage  than  they  do 
now,  and  did  practically  all  the  running  with  the  ball,  as 
may  be  understood  by  the  fact  that  even  when  they  were 


216  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

playing  twenty  a  side  only  one  three-quarter-back  was 
used. 

The  introduction  of  the  loose  game  is  claimed  by  sev- 
eral clubs.  The  Scotch  believe  they  were  the  first  to  play 
it ;  by  some,  Blackheath  is  given  the  honor ;  others  main- 
tain that  Kichmond  was  the  first ;  and  still  others,  with 
very  good  reason,  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  change  came 
from  Oxford.  However  that  may  be,  as  the  system  of 
tight  scrimmages  gave  way  to  loose  play,  the  brilliancy  of 
the  half-back  dimmed,  and  he  found  he  was  fulfilling  his. 
mission  if  he  succeeded  in  snapping  up  the  ball  and  get- 
ting it  to  the  single  three-quarter,  who,  as  the  forwards, 
became  more  skilful  in  breaking  up,  required  a  compan- 
ion in  order  to  advance  it  Avith  any  degree  of  certainty. 

Thus  it  came  about  that  the  number  of  three-quarter- 
backs was  gradually  increased  until,  even  in  the  last  year,, 
some  of  the  teams  have  taken  back  another  forward. 
While  the  four  three-quarter-back  system  has  not  yet 
become  universal,  the  development  of  the  play  has  brought 
the  three-quarter  into  the  greatest  prominence,  and  it  is 
he  nowadays  who  is  given  the  opportunities,  and  not  the 
half,  who  rarely  runs  with  the  ball,  and  serves  in  about 
the  same  position  as  our  quarter. 

The  Rugby  Union  is  governed  by  a  committee  com- 
posed equally  of  southern  and  northern  members,  who 
choose  their  representative  teams.  The  selection  of  in- 
ternational teams  is  made  by  a  subcommittee  of  six- 
three  representing  northern  England,  three  southern- 
while  international  contests  generally  are  governed  by  a. 
board  of  twelve,  on  which  England  has  six,  Scotland 
two,  Ireland  two,  and  Wales  two  members  each. 

The  international  fifteens  of  Scotland,  Ireland,  and 
Wales  are  chosen  by  their  respective  governing  unions, 
and  on  practically  the  same  basis. 


CLUB  FOOTBALL 


217 


They  have  always  played  good  football  in  the  home 
of  Bobby  Burns,  the  Rugby  game  having  flourished  there 
certainly  since  the  formation  of  the  Union,  and  was  popu- 
lar even  long  before  that  body  was  dreamed  of.  Scotland 
seems,  in  fact,  to  have  always  been  predisposed  to  foot- 
ball, and  her  sons  have  played  it  enthusiastically  as  boys 
and  men  time  out  of  mind. 

Ireland,  though  not  having  made  such  progress  as  Scot- 
land, has,  nevertheless,  a  history  dating  well  back,  and  of 
much  interest.  They  have,  indeed,  three  kinds  of  foot- 
ball^Rugby,  Association,  and  Gaelic— the  relative  condi- 
tions and  amateur  status  of  which  may  be  judged  Avhen, 
as  it  is  said,  that  in  Rugby  they  kick  the  ball;  in  Asso- 
ciation they  kick  the  man  if  they  cannot  kick  the  ball ; 
and  in  Gaelic  they  kick  the  ball  if  they  cannot  kick  the 
man.  Ireland  played  its  first  international  match  with 
England  in  '74,  though  not  until  '82  did  they  begin  to 
send  out  the  strong  teams  that  now  rank  with  the  best. 

Wales  is  the  young- 
est but  most  energetic 
Rugby  centre  of  the 
four.  They  played 
England  for  the  first 
time  in  '80,  and  not  un- 
til the  last  year  or  so 
have  they  succeeded  in 
putting  out  a  strong 
team.  But  to-day  no- 
where is  the  game 
played  with  greater  en- 
ergy. 

At  the  time  of  the 
organization  of  the  As- 
sociation  in   18C3   the 


ii) 

6  Yds 

^4 

6Yds 

/^20Yas     N, 

V  o'r   w' a    r  d  s' 

'  J/v   sacks' 

HALFBACKS 

00 A  L  KEEPER 

va  ) 

(Yd 

6^5  "GYd?       &^ 

ASSOCIATION    FOOTBALL    FIKLD 


218  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

Eugby  off-side  rule  was  in  force,  but  this  was  changed 
in  '67  to  the  present  ruling,  and  from  that  date  both 
passing  and  dribbling  have  been  features  of  the  game. 
Since  then  there  has  been  no  particular  development 
other  than  the  perfection  of  skill  in  dribbling,  and  the 
introduction  of  heading  the  ball,  which  has  become  a 
most  clever  and  important  feature.  In  the  very  first  years 
there  was  some  experimenting  with  different  plays,  but 
the  game  had  settled  down  about  '75,  and  has  remained 
practically  the  same  ever  since.  Of  late  years,  to  facili- 
tate the  umpire's  work,  a  net  has  been  spread  back  of  the 
goal,  from  post  to  post  and  beneath  the  cross  bar  (under 
which  the  ball  must,go  to  count),  since  which  disputes  over 
goals  have  ceased. 

The  earliest  j-ears  of  the  Association  game  were  ama- 
teur, and  the  Wanderers'  Club  was  famous  for  the  very 
clever  team  it  turned  out,  and  with  which  it  won  several 
years  in  succession.  It  was  in  1872  that  cup  ties  were  es- 
tablished, which  started  the  popular  wave  that  had  spread 
in  '75  to  the  provincial  districts,  and  in  a  year  or  so  later 
had  taken  full  possession  of  the  country,  and  bade  fare- 
well to  all  hopes  of  the  amateur.  There  was  only  one 
club  playing  Association  football  in  Birmingham  in  '74, 
but  two  years  later  the  number  had  increased  to  nearly 
half  a  hundred,  and  this  was  only  the  beginning  of  the 
interest  that  has  extended  throughout  the  kingdom.  So 
many  provincial  clubs  sprang  up  that  the  system  of  cup 
ties  had  to  be  changed  in  '79,  the  clubs  being  divided  into 
districts  for  the  preliminary  rounds.  In  '83  a  provincial 
club  won  the  championship,  and  from  that  year  the  suc- 
cessful team  has  always  come  from  those  sections. 

With  the  increase  of  provincial  clubs  and  the  absorp- 
tion of  football  l)y  the  lower  elements,  teams  became 
more  and  more  professional,  until  finally  offences  were  so 


CLUB   FOOTBALL  219 

flagrant  that  the  Association  in  its  weakness  openly  rec- 
ognized what  it  could  not  stamp  out.  That  day  sounded 
the  knell  of  the  amateur  in  Association  football.  Pie 
endeavored  for  a  while  to  stem  the  current,  but  it  was 
too  strong  for  him,  and,  realizing  he  must  either  get  out 
or  be  carried  along  in  the  polluted  sea,  he  left  the  field 
to  the  professional,  who  has  held  undisputed  sway  ever 
since. 

Whether  this  decadence  in  amateur  football  may  ever 
be  repaired  is  a  serious  question,  but  I  incline  to  the 
opinion  that  the  present  extravagant  professional  furor 
will  run  its  course,  and  the  amateur  live  once  again  in 
all  his  pristine  purity. 


IX 

UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS 

Athletics  have  been  one  of  the  characteristics  of  town 
and  country  life  in  England  as  far  back  as  anything  that 
has  ever  been  written  on  the  subject  carries  ,us,  and  to 
comment,  therefore,  on  present  -  day  university  athletics 
without  touching  a  bit  on  the  earlier  history  would  be 
to  put  forth  an  incomplete  story.  Besides  which,  Oxford 
and  Cambridge  fathered  the  Amateur  Athletic  Associa- 
tion of  Great  Britain,  and  university  history  in  its  turn 
becomes  really  that  of  (comparatively)  modern  English 
athletics. 

Of  the  very  earliest  English  athletics  it  is  only  perti- 
nent to  say  here  that  there  appears  to  have  been  no 
period  when  they  did  not  thrive,  even,  though  somewhat 
less  vigorousl}^,  during  the  political  ascendency  of  the 
Puritans.  Their  determined  warfare  waged  against  foot- 
ball lost  much  of  its  bitterness  when  directed  upon  ath- 
letics, and  opposition  was  chiefly  confined  to  Sunday 
playing.  Unlike  football,  too,  athletics  received  much 
consideration  at  the  royal  court,  and  were  not  only 
looked  upon  with  favor,  but  became  a  not-inconsiderable 
feature  of  its  out-of-town  entertainment.  Koyalty  itself, 
both  by  precept  and  example,  encouraged  the  people  in 
running  and  jumping,  wrestling,  and  games  with  the 
weights.  Some  pretty  tall  stories,  that  go  to  prove  the 
lonely  fisherman  not  to  have  been,  indeed,  the  first  of 
Ananias's  many  descendants,  are  handed  down  to  us  of 


UNIVERSITY  ATHLETICS  221 

the  prowess  of  these  early  athletes,  among  others  that 
Henry  V.  was  so  swift  and  tireless  a  runner  that  it  was 
quite  common  amusement  for  him,  aided  by  two  of  his 
lords,  to  run  down  and  capture  a  deer  in  the  royal  park ! 
It  is  not  unlikely  the  said  king's  quarry  was  the  proto- 
type of  the  present  queen's  half-tamed  stags,  which,  after 
having  their  antlers  sawed  off,  are  carted  to  the  meet, 
and  turned  out  to  be  chased  by  hounds  (that  are  on  terms 
of  perfect  familiarity  with  them),  and  followed  by  a  large 
field  of  mounted  men  and  women,  who  fancy  they  are 
having  great  sport.  Still  another  story  is  of  a  man  who 
ran  twenty  miles  in  less  than  one  and  a  half  hours,  which 
puts  Mr.  W.  H.  Morton's  (amateur)  world  -  beating  per- 
formance of  1  h.  52  m.  51|-  sec.  (March  22,  1890)  rather 
in  the  shade. 

However  impossible  these  yarns  may  be,  the  fact  is 
that  athletics  were  very  popular  during  the  fifteenth  and 
sixteenth  centuries,  waned  a  bit  under  "  Puritan  Eng- 
land "  the  first  half  of  the  seventeenth,  but,  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  seventeenth,  after  the  Restoration,  en- 
tered upon  a  regular  nineteenth-century  boom.  An  ath- 
letic wave  set  in  that  spread  throughout  the  kingdom, 
and  each  holiday  was  made  an  excuse  for  fairs,  at  which 
sports  of  every  known  description  were  held.  Some  of 
these  games  were  more  curious  than  sporting,  as,  for  in- 
stance, I  find  the  programmes  included  such  extraordi- 
nary novelties  as  "  girls  running  for  smocks,  old  women 
drinking  hot  tea  for  snuff,  grinning  through  horse-collars, 
jumping  in  sacks  for  a  cheese,  hunting  a  pig  with  a 
soaped  tail,  whistling  and  spinning  matches,"  besides 
foot-racing  at  various  distances — a  programme  that,  Avhile 
more  startlingly  unique,  is  not  so  sporting  as  the  following 
list  of  events  for  an  all-round  competition  that  was  given 
along  in  the  fifties  of  the  present  century  :  "  A  mile  run, 


222  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

walking  backwards  a  mile,  rolling  a  coach-wheel  a  mile, 
leaping  over  fifty  3  ft.  6  in.  hurdles,  stone-picking,  and 
weight-putting." 

With  all  the  great  activity  in  sport,  and  the  innumer- 
able opportunities  afforded  athletes  of  this  time,  it  is 
passing  strange  that  there  were  no  distinctive  amateur 
meetings.  It  is  true  that  these  fair  games  had,  of  course, 
a  certain  percentage  of  contestants  who  entered  for  sport 
rather  than  for  personal  aggrandizement,  yet  no  distin- 
guishing line  had  been  drawn,  and  amateurs  neither  held 
recognized  meetings  nor  were  systematically  organized. 
In  the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth  century  they  made  a 
movement  towards  uniting,  but  little  came  of  it,  and  that 
little  had  almost  entirely  disappeared  by  1825.  It  was 
not  until  between  the  forties  and  fifties  that  amateurs 
began  earnestly  to  bestir  themselves,  and  even  then  their 
first  appearance  in  games  was  under  assumed  names,  curi- 
ously enough,  too,  since  the  never- withdrawn  patronage  of 
royalty,  which  had  unbounded  faith  in  leaping  and  run- 
ning as  the  best  physical  training  for  the  nation's  soldiers, 
would  seem  to  have  placed  rather  an  honorable  mark  upon 
such  recreation. 

The  sport  of  "  the  people,"  however,  which  by  this  time 
had  developed  a  wide-spread  professional  element,  went  on 
uninterruptedly,  though  the  growth  of  a  class  that  sought 
it  as  a  means  of  livelihood  raised  a  standard  of  skill  that 
lessened  tj^opular  participation,  and  gradually  decreased 
the  number  of  fairs  until  they  disappeared  entirely. 

The  first  professional  athlete  was  evolved  from  the 
running  footman  of  the  gentry.  It  was  quite  the  thing, 
at  the  time  of  which  I  am  writing,  for  country  gentlemen 
to  match  their  foot-grooms  at  short  distances,  and  thus 
they  developed  from  being  carriers  of  messages  into  car- 
riers of  their  employers'  wagers,  and  into  trained  athletes 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS  225 

hired  and  kept  because  of  their  qiiahfications  as  sprinters 
ratlier  than  as  serving-men.  A  speedy  foot-groom  became 
as  necessary  an  acquisition  to  every  gentleman's  establish- 
ment as  his  hunter,  and,  although  probably  not  costing  so 
much,  was  regarded  with  equal  solicitude.  It  was  an 
easy  transition  into  professionalism  for  those  running 
grooms,  who  would  naturally  after  a  time  turn  their  skill 
to  their  own  account  instead  of  to  their  masters',  from 
w^hom  they  received  only  a  good  servant's  berth  in  return 
for  their  athletic  prowess. 

Although  undoubtedly  there  had  been  English  school 
games  at  which  running  was  an  important  feature,  and 
we  do  know  for  a  certainty  that  the  Rugby  "  crick  run  " 
was  begun  as  early  as  1837,  while  personal  diaries  tell  of 
100-yard  hurdle-races  at  Eton  the  same  year,  yet  the  first 
organized  amateur  athletic  meeting  was  not  held  until 
1840,  and  is  accredited  to  the  Royal  Military  Academy, 
Woolwich,  which,  however,  abandoned  the  event  four 
years  later. 

Exeter  College,  at  Oxford,  has  the  most  authentic  rec- 
ord and  the  clearest  title  to  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
(in  1850)  to  inaugurate  annual  athletic  meetings,  a  direct 
result,  as  detailed  in  the  chapter  on  rowing,  of  steeple- 
chasing  among  members  of  the  same  college.  Among 
the  colleges,  Lincoln  (Oxford)  was  next,  followed  by  St. 
John's  and  Emmanuel  at  Cambridge;  while  at  Oxford,  Bal- 
liol,  Wadham,  Pembroke,  and  Worcester  gave  games  in  '56, 
Oriel  in  '57,  Merton  in  '58,  Christ  Church  in  '59,  and  two 
years  later  all  the  colleges  were  holding  separate  meetings. 

Of  the  schools,  Rugby  was  of  course  first  to  give  atten- 
tion to  athletics  by  the  "crick  run"  in  '37,  but  it  is  not 
credited  with  regular  athletic  meetings  until  '56,  whereas 
Eton,  in  addition  to  its  claims  to  hurdle-races  in  '37,  began 
its  athletic  meetings  with  steeple-chase,  sprint,  and  hurdle- 
is 


226  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

races  in  '45,  while  Kensington  Grammar-school  was  on 
the  field  in  '52  ;  and  Harrow,  although  some  years  behind 
its  great  riv^al,  Avas  at  work  in  '53,  and  thus  among  the 
athletic  pioneers.  Of  the  others,  Winchester  began  in  '57, 
and  Westminster  and  Charterhouse  both  in  '61.  Previous 
to  these  regular  meetings  nearh^  all  the  schools  had  hare- 
and-hound  chases,  which  were,  I  have  no  doubt,  in  various 
forms,  the  very  beginning  of  all  organized  sport  among 
boys. 

Of  the  more  skill-requiring  games,  the  hurdle  seems 
to  have  been  the  earliest  at  all  the  first  college  athletic 
sports,  since,  as  already  stated,  Eton  had  introduced  it  in 
'37,  while  C.  N.  Jackson,  the  athletic  mentor  of  Oxford,  so 
early  as  '65  made  a  16-second  record  for  120  yards  that  has 
not  yet  been  excelled  and  only  once  equalled  in  England. 

Cambridge  as  a  university  turned  its  attention  to  ath- 
letics in  '57,  three  years  before  Oxford,  but  the  latter 
from  the  very  first  made  it  an  annual  event,  whereas 
Cambridge  did  not  do  so  until  '63.  The  first  Oxford- 
Cambridge  meeting  was  held  in  '64  at  Oxford,  on  the 
Christ  Church  cricket-grounds,  the  programme  consisting 
of  eight  events,  of  which  each  won  four;  but  in  '67  they 
Avent  to  London,  where,  on  the  Queen's  Club  grounds,  the 
contests  have  since  been  annually  decided.  Trinity  Col- 
lege, Dublin  University,  had  athletic  games  in  '57,  but  the 
first  meeting  of  Edinburgh  University  is  not  recorded. 

Once  the  universities  and  public  schools  had  taken  to 
athletics,  its  adoption  by  the  young  men  of  the  country 
generally  followed  as  a  natural  sequence.  So  it  hap- 
pened that,  after  having  lain  dormant  for  many  years — 
for  by  this  time  all  the  great  activity  and  fairs  of  the 
earlier  period  had  become  mere  memories  of  the  past — 
there  came  once  again  a  boom,  as  track  athletics  renewed 
its  youth.    It  was  rather  more  of  a  babyhood  at  first,  and 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS  229 

toddled  along  uncertainly  for  several  years;  but  the  need 
of  just  such  exercise  was  felt  in  the  land,  and,  with  the 
additional  impetus  given  by  the  annual  contribution 
from  the  universities,  strength  and  surety  replaced  fee- 
bleness and  uncertainty.  Yet  the  meetings  were  few  and 
far  between  for  some  time,  and  the  amateur  remained  un- 
cared  for ;  he  competed  under  his  own  name  or  a  fictitious 
one  for  money  or  trophies,  and  against  whomsoever  he 
pleased.  The  Honorable  Artillery  Company  held  a  meet- 
ing in  '58  that  made  a  worthy  effort  to  give  him  his 
rightful  standing,  but  little  came  of  it,  and  reall}'  the  first 
games  for  amateurs  only  were  given  in  '62  by  an  enter- 
prising promoter  of  professional  handicaps.  The  meeting- 
was  very  successful,  and,  as  a  result,  the  following  year 
gave  birth  to  the  Mincing  Lane  Athletic  Club,  which  held 
games  in  '64,  and  for  a  couple  of  years  enjoyed  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  only  athletic  club  in  Great  Britain 
that  made  any  pretence  of  fostering  amateurs. 

It  was  not  to  be  supposed  that  a  club  formed  through 
the  commercial  zeal  of  a  man  associated  with  jirofessional 
running  would  satisfy  the  awakening  amateur  spirit, 
and  in  ^QQ  a  number  of  university  men  organized  the  Am- 
ateur Athletic  Club  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the 
want  of  an  established  field,  upon  which  their  contests 
could  be  decided  without  rubbing  elbows  with  profes- 
sionals. They  gave  the  first  amateur  championship  of 
England  that  same  year,  and  in  1868  opened  the  famous 
Lillie  Bridge  grounds,  which  forthwith  became  the  ama- 
teur headquarters  of  Great  Britain. 

The  Amateur  Athletic  Club  did  much  for  the  good  of 
sport,  and  stood  alone  as  the  champion  of  the  amateur 
(outside  Oxford  and  Cambridge  and  the  public  schools), 
and  without  an  athletic  rival  until  the  London  Athletic 
Club  sprang  into  existence  a  year  or  so  later.     For  a 


230  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

time  the  L.  A.  C.  held  its  meetings  on  the  grounds  of  the 
A.  A.  C.  at  Lillie  Bridge,  and  the  two  worked  harmoni- 
ously in  the  good  cause.  But  the  London  Club,  with  its 
more  active  members  and  more  vigorous  constitution,  soon 
made  it  evident  that  the  older  club  was  losing  position, 
and  in  '76  there  came  a  rupture  between  the  two,  which 
led  to  the  London  Athletic  Club  securing  its  present 
ground  at  Stamford  Bridge.  Although  fast  reaching  a 
moribund  condition,  the  A.  A.  C.  was  not  inclined  to 
surrender  its  prestige  without  a  struggle ;  therefore,  that 
year  two  championships  were  held,  and  a  division  of 
interests  created  which  ended  finally  in  the  collapse  of 
the  weaker  A.  A.  C. 

Added  to  this  conflict  was  a  growing  feeling  among 
non  -  university  athletes  that  the  date  of  the  champion- 
ships should  be  changed  from  the  spring  to  summei',  on 
the  ground  that  the  Oxford  and  Cambridge  men,  by 
reason  of  having  their  own  athletic  sports  in  February 
and  March,  had  a  considerable  advantage  in  the  cham- 
pionships over  the  club  athletes,  who  were  not  able  to  get 
"  fit "  so  early  in  the  year.  All  of  which  led  to  a  very 
unsatisfactory  condition  of  affairs  generally,  until  a  con- 
ference between  the  older  heads  of  the  universities  and 
the  more  prominent  club  officials  resulted,  in  ISSO,  in  the 
formation  of  the  present  Amateur  Athletic  Association  of 
Great  Britain,  and  the  selection  of  summer  for  the  Eng- 
lish championships. 

From  the  day  of  the  organization  of  the  A.  A.  A.,  uni- 
versity and  non  -  university  athletes  have  been  drifting 
further  and  further  apart,  until  to-day  the  meetings  of 
the  London  Athletic  Club  are  about  the  only  outside 
ones  in  which  Oxford  and  Cambridge  entries  are  made. 
Oxford  and  Cambridge  have  no  distinct  ruling  body  of 
their  own,  such  as  our  Intercollegiate  Athletic  Associa- 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS 


231 


tion,  and  hold  their  meetings  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Amateur  Athletic  Association.  The  chief  reason  for  this 
state  of  affairs  is  found  in  the  unwholesome  condition  of 
English  athletics,  which,  since  the  popular  w^ave  set  in, 
have  been  absorbed  by  the  lower  elements  of  society,  and 
tainted  from  one  end  of  the  kingdom  to  the  other  by  dis- 
guised (the  worst  sort  of)  professionahsm. 

Comparisons  being  always  in  order  between  our  Eng- 
lish cousins  and  ourselves,  perhaps  it  will  be  interesting, 
before  going  into  the  systems  that  obtain  at  Oxford  and 
Cambridge,  to  glance  over  our  own  university  athletic 
history. 


Oxford-Cambridge, 
1«64 

American  Inter-collegi»te, 
1876 

Event 

Performance 

Performanre 

100  yards 

440      "^     

10  1-2  sec. 
56 

4  mill.  59 

17  3-4    " 
5  ft.  5  in. 

18  fr. 

10  3-4  sec. 
56 
2  min.  16  1-2    " 
S     "       7 
4     "     5S  1-2    " 
18  1-2    " 
5  ft.    4        in. 
8  "     3  1-2  " 
30  "   11  1-2  " 

Mile  walk 

Mile  run 

16-lb.  shot 

American  inter  -  university  athletics  were  given  their 
first  impetus  through  the  sportsmanship  of  James  CTordon 
Bennett,  who  in  1873  offered  a  $500  cup  for  a  2-mile  race, 
to  be  run  in  July,  after  the  inter -university  boat-races, 
which  were  then  rowed  at  Saratoga,  and  followed  it  up 
the  next  year  by  one  cup  each  for  a  100-yard  run,  3-mile 
run,  120-yard  hurdle-race,  1-mile  run,  and  T-mile  walk. 
Yale  held  a  meeting  under  the  auspices  of  the  "  Xavy 
Base  and  Foot  Ball  Clubs"  in  the  autumns  of  '73  and  '74, 
at  which  there  were  a  hurdle-race,  running  high  jump, 
standing  broad  jump,  100 -yard  dash,  half-mile  run,  mile 
walk,  hop,  step,  and  jump,  throwing  baseball,  and  wrest- 
ling. Harvard  in  '74  held  its  first  athletic  meeting,  at 
which  the  100  yards  was  run  on  a  grass  course,  and  won 


232 


A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 


in  13  seconds,  and  where  August  Belmont  aroused  great 
interest  by  the  spike  shoes  he  wore  in  one  of  the  sprints, 
and  George  Walton  Green  shocked  the  natives  by  walk- 
ing with  bare  legs  and  in  the  short  running-breeches  that 
are  the  conventional  dress  of  to-day.  Yale  in  '75  formed 
an  athletic  association,  and  held  a  meeting  in  the  autumn, 
at  which  the  16-pound  shot  w^as  won  at  32:5;  100  yards 
in  10|^ ;  mile  walk,  8:13  ;  high  jump,  5:3 ;  half-mile  run, 
2:10;  3-mile  run,  19:27;  120-yard  hurdle,  19^;  410  yards, 
57 ;  mile  run,  5:20 ;  throwing  baseball,  327  feet. 

While  the  discussion  of  the  forination  of  an  intercol- 
legiate athletic  association  was  rife  in  '75,  a  meeting  was 
held  at  Saratoga,  at  which  the  100  yards  was  won  in  10| 
seconds,  the  mile  in  4:44^,  the  quarter  in  55^,  and  the 
half-mile  in  2:06|.  It  should  be  remembered  that  this 
was  on  a  horse  track,  and  also  that  the  timing  in  those 
days  was  not  nearly  so  accurate  as  it  is  to-day. 


OXFORD-CAMBRIDGE  ATHLETIC  MEETING,  MARCH,  1S94 

Event. 

Performance. 

Winner. 

University. 

100  yards 

10  3-5  sec. 
50  4-5    " 

4  m.  19  4-5    " 
15   "     7 

16  3-5    " 
22  ft.  4         in. 

5  "  10  1-4    " 
101    "    4  1-2    " 

37    "    6 

Jordan 

Oxford. 

Cambridge. 

Oxford. 

11 

Mile    run 

Lntyens 

3-mile  " 

Horan      

120-yard  hurdle.... 

Broad  jump 

Hi-h       "     

16-lb.  hammer 

10-11).  shot 

Oakley 

Fry 

Hammer  thrown  from  30-ibot  circle  ;   shot  put  from  10-foot  squ 


AMERICAN  INTER-COLLEGIATE  ATHLETIC  MEETING,  MAY,  1894 


Event. 


100  yards 

220      "      

440      "     

8S0      "     

Mile  run 

Mile  walk 

120yd.  hurdles.... 
220.yd.        "      . . . . 

2-inile  bicycle 

Runnin<r  hiv'hjunii) 
"        broad  " 

Pole  vault 

10-lb.  hammer 

16-11).  shot 


Ramsdell. 


Merrill... 
Kilpatrick. 

Jarvis 

Houiihtou. 

Cady. 

Bremer 

Goodman.. 

Paine 

Ranifdell.. 
Kershaw.. 
Uickok.... 


Pennsylvania. 

Harvard. 

Union. 

Wesleyan. 

Amherst. 

Yale. 

Harvard. 

City  of  New  York. 

Harvard. 

Pennsylvania. 

Yale. 


Hammer  thrown  first  time  with  7-foot  run  ;  shot  put  from  7-foot  circle. 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS 


235 


At  the  Oxford  -  Cambridge  ISO-t  meeting  there  was  a 
200-yard  hurdle-race  and  2-mile  steeple-chase,  won  in  2()f 
seconds  and  10:34  respectively.  The  following  year  the 
2-mile  run,  putting  the  16-pound  shot,  and  throwing  the 
cricket-ball  were  added,  the  last  being  replaced,  however, 
at  the  third  meeting,  by  the  1 6  -  pound  hammer,  and  thus 
the  list  stands  to-day.  The  half-mile  run,  mile  walk,  two- 
mile  bicycle-race,  220-yard  dash,  and  pole  vault  are  not  in- 
cluded in  the  Oxford-Cambridge  sports,  and  only  occasion- 
ally in  any  of  the  college  games,  though  there  is  no  lack 
of  ability  in  the  half-mile.  With  us  the  '76  meeting  (the 
birth-year  of  the  Intercollegiate  Association)  was  the  lirst 
of  the  shot,  and  the  following  year  saw  the  first  of  the  pole 
vault  and  hammer,  with  records  of  7  ft.  4  in.  and  75  ft.  10  in. 
One  of  the  ludicrous  sights  of  this  meeting  was  a  young 
man  clad  in  green  silk  tights  liberally  spangled  with  gold 
fringe,  who  heroically  whipped  his  legs  throughout  the 
walk,  undoubtedly  in  emulation  of  Weston  the  pedestrian, 
at  that  time  in  the  public  eye. 


COMPARATIVE  TABLE  ENGLISH  AND  AMERICAN  UNIVERSITY   RECORDS 


Event. 

English.                                    j                            American. 

Record. 

Name. 

Year. 

University.        Record. 

Name. 

Year. 

University. 

100  yards 

440     "     

m)    "    

Mile  run 

3-mile  "    

120-yd.  hurdle.. 
2-mile  bicycle... 

High  jump 

Broad     "      .... 
I6-lb.  hammer.. 

16-lb.  shot 

10       

49  4-5 

l:l>4  2-5.... 

4:19  4-5 

14:44  3-5 

1«        

6:36  2-5  .    ... 
6  ft.  2  1-2  in. 
23  "  6  1-2  "  . 
138  ft.  6  in.... 

Wharton 

Moneypeuny. 
Cros.« 

hor!-;:::: 

Brooks 

•Fry 

;r 

1892 

1894 
1893 

1876 
1893 
1876 

Darlington. 

Cambridge. 

Oxford 

Cambridge. 

Dublin  ...'. 
Cambridge. 
Oxford..:.. 

Cambridge." 

Oxford 

10       

47  3-4 

1:54  1-2 

4:26  4-6 

15:414-5 

(Sherill  . 
■{  Wendell 
jCary... 
Baker  .... 
Dohin    ... 
Jarvis   ... 
Lane 

1890 
1881 
1891 
1886 
1890 
1894 
1888 

Yale. 

Harvard. 

Princeton. 

Harvard. 

Princeton 

Wesleyan. 

Yale. 

Harvard. 
Penn. 

Wnsh'n. 
Yale. 

15  4-5 

5:  7  2-5 

6  ft.  4  in  ... . 

23  "  6  1-2  in. 

123  ft.  9  in... 

7-ft.  run. 

Williams  . 
Elliott... 

P«ee 

Reber 

Hickok.... 

1891 

1894 
18H7 
1891 
1894 

1894 

10-ft.  run. 

7-ft.  run. 

While  it  has  been  only  in  the  last  half-dozen  years 
that  our  records  have  approached  the  English,  yet  since 
1889  they  have  been  raised  steadily  at  almost  every 
meeting,  until   they   stand    now   at   the   very  top  in   a 


236  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

majority  of  the  events,  as  a  glance  at  the  tables  makes 
patent.  The  greatest  meeting  our  universities  ever  had 
was  that  of  '91,  when  records  were  made  in  ten  out  of 
fourteen  events  on  the  programme,  two  of  them  being- 
world's  records. 

"With  so  large  a  variety  of  athletic  interests  at  the 
English  universities  it  is  surprising  how  many  men  be- 
come candidates  for  the  track  athletic  teams  of  the  differ- 
ent colleges.  Every  college  at  Oxford  and  Cambridge 
has  its  athletic  team,  and  holds  sports  open  only  to  its 
own  undergraduates.  As  I  have  already  intimated,  there 
is  very  little  preparation,  as  we  understand  it,  among  the 
track  athletes  for  their  university  contests,  and  there  is 
less  to  be  seen  at  these  purely  college  meetings,  which 
show  more  of  a  good  sportsmanlike  feeling  than  of  ex- 
cellent form. 

The  general  athletic  schedule  of  the  universities  is  ar- 
ranged for  the  year  by  the  "  Blues "  committee,  which 
includes  a  blue  in  every  branch  of  sport,  and  they  decide 
on  dates  for  rowing,  cricket,  football,  and  athletic  con- 
tests. 

The  athletic  year  begins  with  the  Freshmen's  sports  in 
November,  after  which  candidates  for  college  teams  are 
chosen,  and  the  slight  training  that  they  do  is  begun. 
Active  work  is  in  order  shortly  after  Christmas,  and 
college  meetings  are  continued  throughout  January  and 
February.  By  the  last  of  February  the  colleges  have 
pretty  nearly  all  held  their  meetings,  and  interest  then 
centres  in  the  make-up  of  the  'varsity  athletic  team,  the 
candidates  for  which  are  chosen  at  the  university  sports, 
held  usually  about  the  first  week  in  IMarch  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  first  and  second  men  are  chosen,  two  only  in 
each  event— except  in  one  and  three  mile  events,  in  which 
there  are  three — being  sent  up  to  London  for  the  Oxford- 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS 


237 


Cambridge  contest,  decided  annually  at  Queen's  on  or 
about  the  da}^  of  the  boat-race.  The  winners  are  called 
the  first  string,  and  receive  a  full  ''  blue  ";  the  second  men 
form  the  second  string,  and  receive  a  half  "  blue  "  —  the 
difference  being  that  the  first  may  wear  the  blue  cap  and 
jacket,  whereas  the  halves  have  only  the  blue  trimming 
on  their  shirt  and  running  breeches.  This  team  is  gener- 
ally selected  about  three  weeks  before  their  contest,  and, 
once  chosen,  settle  down  to  more  serious  training,  usually 
going  to  the  sea  for  the  final  ten  days  of  preparation. 

I  have  told  of  the  manner  of  meeting  the  expenses  of 
athletic  teams,  but  I  think  I  have  neglected  to  sav  that 


5/-  Entrance  & 
for  Ticket  Holders^ 


niAfiliAM    OK    QUKKN  S    Cl.til!    filtdUNnS 
Site  of  the  Oxrorci-CainbridKe  footliall  and  .itliletic  contests 


238  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

the  university  athletic  ground  at  both  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge is  open  for  training  purposes  to  those  only  who 
have  joined  the  U.  A.  C.  and  paid  their  fee.  The  col- 
leges are  permitted  to  hold  their  games  on  the  'varsity 
grounds,  and  on  that  day  only  may  athletes  not  members 
of  the  U.  A.  C.  use  the  track.  As  a  result,  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  athletes  do  become  members  of  the  University 
Club. 

The  sportsmanlike  spirit  is  very  much  in  evidence  at 
these  meetings.  The  afternoon  is  generally  given  the 
coloring  of  a  social  gathering,  and  made  the  more  pleasur- 
able by  an  excellent  band  of  music  —  an  idea  that  might 
well  be  adopted  by  our  universities,  which  do  not  have 
music  even  at  the  intercollegiate  championships.  The 
prizes  are  simplicity  itself,  being  silver  medals  of  precisely 
the  same  value  for  the  first  and  second  men — a  plan  long 
ago  inaugurated,  and  one  that  has  worked  most  advan- 
tageously in  fostering  the  excellent  feeling  which  greets 
you  at  every  turn  at  Oxford  and  Cambridge. 

I  have  said  that  there  is  no  trainer  at  the  English  uni- 
versities; but  Oxford  until  lately  had  the  advantage  of  re- 
taining in  residence,  as  a  don  of  Hertford  College,  one  of 
its  most  famous  old  athletes  —  C.  IS".  Jackson  —  who,  as 
Honorable  Treasurer  of  the  Association  and  general  ad- 
viser, gave  the  athletics  of  his  alma  mater  a  great  deal  of 
personal  and  valuable  attention  ;  and  the  Rev.  E.  H.  Mor- 
gan, of  Jesus  College,  bears  a  similar  relationship  to  ath- 
letics at  Cambridge. 

Oxford  owns  an  excellent  athletic  field,  with  a  fully 
equipped  club-house,  dressing  and  reading  rooms,  etc., 
while  Cambridge  rents  a  field,  called  Fenner's,  from  the 
cricket  club,  with  the  privilege  of  its  club-house.  There 
is  a  movement  now  making  at  Cambridge  to  raise  money 
for  the  purchase  of  grounds.     The  tracks,  cinders  on  clay 


OXFOKU    KACyUET    AND    hI\K~ 


at  both,  are  about  one-third  of  a  mile,  measured  12  inches 
(instead  of  IS,  as  with  us)  from  the  inner  side  of  the  path, 
and  kept  in  very  excellent  condition  by  their  grounds- 
men. Their  curves  are  rather  easy,  though  not  raised  for 
cycling,  and  there  is  a  good  100-yard  stretch,  though  Ox- 
ford has  not  a  220-yard  straightaway,  and,  in  fact,  neither 
requires  one,  since  that  distance  is  not  used  for  flat  or 
hurdle-racing. 

The  hurdling — and  the  hurdles  (single  ones)  3  ft.  6  in., 
are  rather  more  primitive  than  ours,  and  driven  into  the 
ground — is  done  on  the  very  best  of  English  turf,  which 
is  the  finest  imaginable,  and  must  be  seen  and  walked  on 
to  be  appreciated.  The  costumes  of  the  athletes  are  wor- 
thy of  our  emulation,  the  shirts  being  invariably  quarter- 
sleevedj  which  is  a  decided  improvement  on  the  rowing 
shirts  seen  at  our  college  meetings.  The  American  Inter- 
collegiate Association  should  pass  a  law  compelling  ath- 
letes to  wear  shirts  with  sleeves,  if  not  quarter,  at  least 
covering  the  armpit ;  it  would  make  no  difference  what- 
ever in  the  freedom  of  motion,  and  certainly  be  infinitely 
more  decent.     The  Yale  team  that  made  the  recent  ath- 


2-iO  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

letic  invasion  of  England  were  requested  by  Oxford  to 
wear  shirts  with  quarter-sleeves. 

The  form  of  English  university  athletes,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  distance  running,  does  not  average  so  good  as 
ours.  Of  course  there  are  individuals  who  approach 
our  best,  but  where  they  have  one  such,  we  have  doz- 
ens. In  the  sprints,  which  are  run  in  lanes,  the  men  are 
much  less  steady  on  the  mark,  due,  I  think,  largely  to 
the  starting,  which  is  by  no  means  so  careful  or  so  skil- 
ful as  that  to  which  we  are  accustomed  in  America. 
I  was  amused  by  the  pistol  of  tlie  Oxford  starter,  which 
is  a  muzzle-loading  affair,  rivalling  the  college  buildings 
in  antiquity,  and  when  exploded  sounded  like  a  huge 
cannon  fire-cracker.  The  men  as  a  rule  adopt  the  stand- 
ing start.  I  think  I  observed  only  one  who  started 
from  his  hands  and  knees,  and  he  did  not  get  the  advan- 
tage (steadiness)  that  is  supposed  to  belong  to  that  style 
of  getting  off  the  mark.  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  time  of  year  at  which  their  games  are  held  has 
much  to  do  with  the  sprinting  records.  The  atmosphere 
was  emphatically  chilly  at  all  the  sports  I  attended,  as 
it  is  invariably  in  February  and  March,  and  it  must  have 
a  certain  influence  on  the  performances  of  the  athletes. 

The  hurdling  form  is  rather  poorer.  A  few  negotiate 
the  sticks  in  excellent  style,  but  the  average  top  them 
very  awkwardly,  many  taking  their  jumps  straight  on 
without  regard  apparently  to  their  stride.  The  same  crit- 
icism applies  to  the  average  high  -  jumping  form,  the 
measuring  of  which,  but  particularly  of  the  broad  jump, 
I  consider  faulty.  Along  the  landing -bed  sides  of  the 
broad  jump  are  permanently  fixed  measuring  -  boards 
marked  in  feet  and  inches.  The  take-off  is  a  piece  of 
joist  sunk  flush  with  the  earth,  as  with  us ;  but  instead 
of  measuring,  as  do  we,  from  the  scratch-line  (outer  edge 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS 


241 


of  joist)  with  a  steel  tape  to  the  first  break  in  ttie  ground 
made  by  the  jumper's  last  heel,  they  measure  with  a  linen 
tape  (I  saw  none  of  steel  at  either  Oxford  or  Cambridge) 
to  the,/;i«nmpression  of  the  last  heel,  where  a  pole  placed 
across  the  measuring  -  boards  on  the  sides  indicates  the 
distance  jumped.  This  method  of  measuring  is  neither 
accurate  nor  even  fair  to  the  contestants,  as  the  nature 
of  the  earth  in  the  landing -bed  makes  a  difference  of 
several  inches  in  a  performance,  and  the  groundsman's 
spade  in  turning  up  and  loosening  the  soil  largely  in- 
fluences results;  thus  one  man  may  have  more  favoring 
conditions  than  another  in  the  same  competition.  Nor 
are  my  deductions  speculative,  since  I  found  just  such 
dissimilar  conditions  existing  at  the  Oxford  and  at  the 
Cambridge  college  and  university  sports.  Moreover,  I 
carefully  noted  on  the  afternoon  of  the  Oxford  Univer- 
sity meeting  the  performance  of  Mr.  Fry,  whose  jumps 
in  three  trials,  as  announced,  varied  from  three  to  five 
inches  greater  than  they  would  have  been  had  the  tape 
been  stretched  to  the  first  break  made  by  the  last  heel, 
and  not  to  where  it  sank  into  the  loose  earth  of  the  land- 
ing-bed. Given  a  yielding  landing -bed,  a  rainy  day,  a 
strong  sprinter  without  too  much  rise  to  his  jump,  and  this 
measuring  system,  and  there  is  no  record  beyond  the  lim- 
it of  the  Englishmen.  Mr.  Fry  is  credited  on  the  English 
and  American  record  tables  as  dividing  the  world's  run- 
ning broad-jump  record  of  23  ft.  6^  in.  with  the  American, 
Mr.  C.  S.  Eeber;  and  while  the  Ox- 
ford man  is  an  exceptionally  good 
all-round  athlete,  and  a  jumper  for 
whom  the  world's  record  is  a  possi- 
bility, yet  I  certainly  do  not  regard 
his  alleged  record  as  entitled  to  con- 
sideration, nor  any  other  long-jump- 

16 


TYPE    OF    ENGLISH    HURDLE 


242  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

ing  performances  of  the  Englishmen,  until  they  have  cast 
aside  their  present  manner  of  measuring,  and  adopted  the 
fair  one  in  vogue  in  the  United  States. 

My  comment  on  this  broad -jump  measuring,  printed 
first  in  Hakpee's  Weekly,  created  so  much  discussion  on 
both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  that  I  publish  herewith  what 
Mr.  W.  B.  Curtis,  editor  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Times,  and 
the  highest  authority  on  athletic  legislation  and  records 
in  the  United  States,  had  to  say  on  the  subject : 

BROAD  JUMPING  IN  ENGLAND 

From  The  Spirit  of  the  Times,  August  4,  1894. 

During  the  past  three  months  there  has  been  much  newspaper  discus- 
sion concerning  the  methods  of  measuring  the  running  broad  jump  as 
practised  in  England  and  America.  In  the  conduct  of  this  argument 
English  athletes  and  English  editors  have  shown  more  temper  than  wis- 
dom in  dealing  with  a  subject  whose  proper  adjudication  dej^ends  on 
fact  rather  than  argument,  and  cannot  be  furthered  by  ill-natured  pro- 
test against  statements  made  in  good  faith  by  American  newspapers. 
With  the  purpose  of  eliminating  from  this  discussion  all  extraneous  rub- 
bish, and  bringing  the  interested  parties  face  to  face  on  a  platform  of 
common-sense,  we  give  below  a  brief  history  of  the  contention. 

Early  this  spring  the  proprietors  of  Harper's  Weekly  sent  their  ath- 
letic editor,  Mr.  Caspar  W.  Whitney,  to  England,  with  instructions  to 
study  English  amateur  sport.  Mr.  Whitney  incorporated  his  impres- 
sions in  a  series  of  articles  published  after  his  return.  His  contribution 
of  May  19th  treated  of  athletic  sport  at  the  English  universities,  and 
included  the  following  sentences — 

(Theu  follows  the  paragraph  containiDg  my  broad-jump  criticism.— C.  W.  W.) 

The  Spirit  of  the  Times  of  May  26th  reprinted  those  portions  of  Mr. 
Whitney's  article  quoted  above,  and  commented  as  follows : 

"The  measurement  rule  of  the  Amateur  Athletic  Union  is  as  follows: 
'  When  jumped  on  earth,  a  joist  five  inches  wide  shall  be  sunk  flush  with 
it.  The  outer  edge  of  this  joist  shall  be  called  the  scratch-line,  and  the 
measurement  of  all  jumps  shall  be  made  from  it  at  right  angles  to  the 
nearest  break  in  the  ground  made  by  any  part  of  the  person  of  the  com- 
petitor. ' 

"The  alighting  ground  for  the  running  broad  jump  is  dug  up  to  the 
depth  of  a  foot,  so  as  to  furnish  a  soft  place  for  the  descending  jumper. 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS  243 

and  after  each  jump  an  attendant  rakes  the  earth  over  until  it  i8  smooth 
and  without  mark.  At  the  time  a  jumper  alights  his  motion  is  diagonally 
forward  and  downward,  and  after  he  first  touches  the  top  of  the  soft  earlli 
he  goes  on  forward  as  well  as  downward  several  inches  before  his  feet 
•come  to  a  full  stop. 

"  The  extent  of  this  forward  and  downward  motion  would  vary  with 
the  softness  of  the  ground  and  the  different  angles  at  which  different 
junipers  end  their  flight.  But  the  'heel  mark'  named  by  the  English 
rule  will  always  be  several  inches  below  and  iu  front  of  the  'nearest 
break  in  the  ground '  given  in  the  American  rule.  The  difference  would 
■certainly  average  three  inches  and  probably  four  inches  or  more. 

"  It  would  appear  from  these  facts  tiiat  all  American  records  at  run- 
ning broad  jump  are  really  of  several  inches  more  value  than  English 
records  of  the  same  announced  length,  and  that  Reber's  23  feet  6^  inches, 
and  Goff's  23  feet  6  inches,  are  actually  several  inches  better  than  Fry's 
23  feet  6^  inches. 

"  Or  the  difference  might  be  stated  iu  another  way.  The  English 
record,  23  feet  6|  inches,  if  measured  by  American  rules,  would  have 
been  about  23  feet  1  inch  or  23  feet  2  inches;  while  the  American  record, 
23  feet  6^  inches,  if  measured  by  English  rules,  would  be  23  feet  11  inches 
or  24  feet. 

"  We  shall  await  with  interest  English  comment  on  these  statements." 

The  first  English  athletic  authority  to  answer  was  London  Pastime, 
■whose  edition  of  June  7th  published  the  following: 

"There  is  no  record  to  which  so  much  international  rivalry  attaches 
as  that  for  the  long  jump,  the  best-known  performance  in  which  is  23 
feet  6i  inches,  by  both  C.  B.  Fry  at  Oxford,  and  C.  S.  Reber  in  the 
United  States.  The  conditions  for  such  contests  in  America  are  slightly 
different  from  those  in  this  country,  but  it  has  not  been  suggested  until 
recently  that  a  performance  in  one  country  is,  through  the  method  of 
measurement,  of  less  value  than  that  in  another.  But  an  American  vis- 
itor to  the  Inter- University  meeting  of  March  last,  and  also  to  the  sports 
of  both  universities  and  certain  college  meetings,  viz.,  Mr.  Caspar  W. 
AVhitney,  the  athletic  editor  of  Harper's  Weekly,  has  recently  pub- 
lished some  remarks  on  the  management  of  our  competitions.  In  the 
first  place  he  draws  attention  to  the  using  of  a  linen  tape  instead  of  a 
steel  tape.  But  his  more  serious  contention  is  that  the  measurements 
from  the  scratch-line  are  taken,  not  to  the  first  disturbance  in  the  soil,  but 
to  the  '  final  impression  of  the  last  heel.'  Such  a  notion  as  this  is  quite 
incompatible  with  A.  A.  A.  laws.    Mr.  Whitney's  argument  is  as  follows :" 

(Here  followed  the  pertinent  portions  of  Mr.  Whitney's  article,  as  re- 
printed above.) 

"However  true  the  last  remark  may  be,  there  is  no  question  that  all 
good  judges  in  long-jump  performances  are  well  aware  that  the  measure- 
ment should  be  made  to  the  nearest  disturbance  made  iu  the  earth  by  the 
foot,  and  the  words  'the  nearest  heel-mark '  are  surely  thus  understood." 


244  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

The  next  English  answer  came  from  the  well-known  journalist  who 
writes  over  the  signature  of  "  Vanderdecken."  Concerning  the  state- 
ments lyade  by  him  and  by  Pastime,  The  Spirit  of  July  7th  commented 
as  follows: 

"And  now  we  have  been  favored  with  advance  proofs  of  an  article 
written  by  'Vanderdecken,'  one  of  England's  most  intelligent  and  im- 
partial editors.     It  is  as  follows : 

" '  When  the  Yale  athletes  arrive  in  England,  it  will  be  well  if  the  Ox- 
ford athletic  authorities,  with  the  experienced  Mr.  C.  N.  Jackson  at  their 
head,  discuss  a  matter  which  lias  recently  received  prominent  attention  in 
United  States  prints.  A  Mr.  Whitney  has  been  publishing  in  Harper's. 
Weekly  the  results  of  some  investigations  made  by  him  in  England  in  the 
spring.  He  has  discovered  that  the  English  method  of  measuring  long 
jumps  is  open  to  the  serious  objection  of  always  favoring  tlie  juniper,  his 
allegation  being  that  we  do  not  measure  to  the  first  break,  but  to  the  spot 
where  the  athlete's  heel  "sank  in  the  loose  earth  of  the  landing-bed." 
The  conclusion  arrived  at  by  Mr.  Whitney  aud  l)y  The  Spirit  of  the  Times 
is  that  all  English  records  are  necessarily  some  inches  behind  American 
ones— a  somewhat  sweeping  assertion  to  make  on  the  strength  of  observa- 
tions made  at  Oxford  and  Cambridge.  The  Spirit  of  the  Times  asks: 
"What  answer  will  Englishmen  make  to  this?"  Speaking  for  myself,, 
the  result  of  my  inquiries  is  simply  that  Mr.  Whitney  is  a  bad  observer. 
Neitlier  in  the  case  of  C.  B.  Fry  (whose  claims  to  a  record  are  ridiculed) 
nor  any  one  else  is  the  final  heel-mark  taken,  but  the  spot  where  the 
rearmost  heel  first  cuts  the  earth.  This  is  not  necessarily  the  spot  where 
the  first  falling  away  of  the  earth  is  observed,  and  what  the  judges  have 
to  do  is  to  decide  where  the  first  contact  of  the  last  heel  with  the  earth 
has  taken  place.  I  have  it  from  one  of  the  judges  who  measured 
Fry's  record  jump  of  23  feet  Gi  inches,  that  the  first  mark  made  by 
the  heel  was  one  of  the  most  clearly  defined  he  had  ever  seen,  and  that 
the  three  judges  were  unanimous  in  assigning  the  position  of  the  first 
break. ' 

"'Vanderdecken'  does  not  'speak  by  the  card'  when  he  states  that 
Mr.  Whitney  and  The  Spirit  of  the  Times  have  concluded,  etc.  If  he  will 
read  our  article  (reprinted  above)  he  will  note  that  our  conclusion  was 
specifically  predicated  on  the  correctness  of  the  facts  stated  by  Mr.  Whit- 
ney.    If  these  be  in  error  our  conclusions  have  no  standing. 

"Nor  is  he  wholly  ingenuous  in  stating  that  'the  conclusion  arrived  at 
by  Mr.  Whitney  and  by  The  Spirit  of  the  Times  is  that  all  English  records- 
are  necessarily  some  inches  beliind  American  ones— a  somewhat  sweep- 
ing assertion  to  make  on  the  strength  of  ob.servations  made  at  Oxford  and 
Cambridge.'  In  making  this  criticism  'Vanderdecken'  has  overlooked 
the  fact  that  the  best  English  amateur  records  at  running  broad  jumi> 
have  been  held  continuously  for  more  than  twenty  years  by  members  of 
Cambridge  or  Oxford  universities,  and  that  each  of  tiie  several  successive 
records  thus  held  has  been  made  at  university  games.  Therefore  the 
methods  of  measurement  in  vogue  at  Oxford  and  Cambridge  have  con- 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS  245 

trolled  all  of  England's  best  amateur  broad-jump  records  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  and  the  conclusions  of  ]\Ir.  Whitney  and  of  The  ISpirit  of 
the  Times  were  fully  justitied  by  the  facts. 

"  We  regret  that  neither  Pastime  nor '  Vanderdecken '  has  been  able  to 
make  a  more  satisfactory  and  explicit  denial  of  the  statements  made  by 
Mr.  Whitney. 

"Pastime  admits  that  the  English  rule  is  unsatisfactory,  but  claims 
that  all  good  judges  understand  it  correctly  and  apply  it  properly.  This 
would  seem  to  leave  the  correctness  of  measurement  entirely  at  the  mercy 
of  the  judges,  and  suggests  that  all  English  records  at  broad  jumping 
should  carry  a  foot-note  specifying  whether  the  judges  were  good  or  bad. 

"  'Vanderdecken'  practically  admits  all  that  Mr.  Whitney  claimed. 
He  says  '  the  spot  where  the  rearmost  heel  cuts  the  earth  is  not  necessa- 
rily the  spot  where  the  first  falling  away  of  the  earth  is  observed.'  This 
frank  admission  deserves  a  little  explanation.  In  the  running  broad 
jump,  as  contested  at  reputable  athletic  meetings  in  England  and  Amer- 
ica, the  jumpers  run  along  a  smooth,  hard  approach,  take-off  from  a 
board  sunk  flush  with  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  alight  in  a  plot  of 
«arth  freshly  spaded  up  so  as  to  be  loose  and  soft.  Before  each  jump 
this  plot  is  raked  until  its  surface  is  smooth,  level,  and  without  any  marks 
save  those  of  the  rake.  After  the  athlete  jumps  and  walks  away  there 
will  be  found  in  this  soft  plot  an  irregular  hole  or  break  in  the  soft  dirt, 
caused  by  the  jumper  alighting  in  it.  In  America  the  jump  would  be 
measured  from  the  board  at  which  the  jumper  started  to  that  part  of  the 
hole  or  break  in  the  ground  nearest  to  the  starting-board,  no  matter 
whether  that  nearest  part  of  the  hole  was  made  by  the  jumper's  heel  or 
his  leg  or  his  body  or  his  arm  or  his  hands  or  his  elbows  or  his  back  or 
Ijy  the  shock  consequent  on  his  alighting.  Tiiis  hole  was  not  there  before 
he  jumped,  and  must  have  been  caused  by  his  jump,  directly  or  indi- 
rectly, and  the  measurement  is  made  to  the  nearest  part  of  that  hole,  no 
matter  what  made  it,  or  where  the  jumper's  rearmost  heel  first  cut  the 
earth.  '  Vanderdecken  '  admits  that  in  England  the  measurement  would 
be  made  to  the  point  wliere  the  judges  thought  the  jumper's  rearmost 
heel  first  cut  the  earth,  and  that  this  point  would  sometimes  be  different 
from  and  farther  away  from  the  starting-board  tlian  the  first  falling  away 
of  the  earth,  which  is  the  point  to  wiiich  measurement  would  be  made  in 
America. 

"As  this  is  exactly  what  Mr,  Whitney  claimed,  there  seems  to  be 
nothing  on  which  to  base  further  discussion." 

That  Mr.  Whitney's  original  article  clearly  represented  his  convictions 
is  proven  by  the  following  note,  published  in  The  Spirit  of  July  14th: 
"FuANKi.iN  Squakk,  New  Youk,  July  6th. 

"I  have  read  the  comments  of  the  English  journalists  in  this  week's 
Spirit  of  the  Times  with  interest.  I  note  that  '  Vanderdecken '  says  that 
measurement  in  a  broad  jump  is  made  from  '  where  the  rearmost  heel 
first  cuts  the  earth.' 


246  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

"I  am  afraid  that  '  Vanderdecken '  was  not  using  his  eyes  very  care- 
fully at  whatever  broad-jumping  contests  he  may  have  been  a  witness. 
What  I  told  you  about  the  measurement  of  the  broad  jump,  and  that 
which  I  wrote  in  Harper's  Weekly,  were  my  observations  on  the  field 
of  contest  at  both  the  Oxford  and  the  Cambridge  sports.  The  measure- 
ment is  not  taken  to  where  the  rearmost  heel  first  cuts  the  earth,  but  to- 
the  firm  imprint  in  the  ground  of  the  rearmost  heel. 

"Very  truly  yours,  Caspar  W.  Whitney." 

The  London  Sportsman  of  July  14th  published  an  interview  with  Mr. 
Charles  H.  Sherrill,  of  the  Yale  Graduate  Advisory  Committee,  who 
accompanied  the  team  to  England.  One  paragraph  of  this  article  is  as 
follows 

"  '  I  see  that  your  journals  are  trying  to  misrepresent  our  athletic  meth- 
ods,' I  observed.  '  Yes,'  rejoined  Mr.  Sherrill, '  and  nothing  could  be  more 
inaccurate  or  in  worse  taste.  Of  the  fairness  of  your  starting,  judging, 
and  measurement  I  cannot  speak  too  higiily  In  our  countrj^  a  man  is 
penalized  and  disqualified  for  the  slightest  thing.  In  the  broad  jumping, 
too,  our  method  is  far  too  strict.  That  is  why  I  think  Sheldon  will  have 
quite  an  appreciable  look  in,  for  his  distance  is  according  to  American 
measurement,  not  English,  and  he  will  perhaps  do  his  23  feet  when  he 
tries.' " 

It  is  not  impertinent  to  remark  that  nine-tenths  of  all  the  published 
articles  of  which  Mr.  Sherrill  now  says  "  nothing  could  be  more  inaccurate 
or  in  worse  taste"  consisted  solely  of  statements  made  by  Mr.  Sherrill  to 
various  American  reporters  during  the  three  weeks  next  preceding  his 
departure  for  England.  It  is  also  worthy  of  note  that  Mr.  Sherrill's  only 
stated  reason  for  preferring  the  English  method  of  measuring  the  nmning 
broad  jump  is  that  it  would  make  Mr.  Sheldon's  performances  longer  than 
by  the  American  method 

And,  finally,  the  London  Sporting  Life  of  July  16lh  says: 

"On  Saturday  afternoon  Mr.  C  L.  Lockton  and  Mr,  C.  Herbert  exam- 
ined the  jumping-bed,  and  expressed  perfect  satisfaction  with  the  ideas 
of  Messrs.  C.  N.  Jackson  and  C.  B.  Fry,  and  their  mode  of  measurement. 
They  clearly  stated,  notwithstanding  American  papers  to  the  contrary, 
that  the  English  method  is  perfectly  fair;  that  is  to  say,  measurement  to 
the  place  where  the  hindermost  heel  cuts  the  soil,  not  to  the  farthest 
point  of  the  drivage  of  the  heel.  English  judges  take  no  account  of  the 
break  back  of  the  soil  behind,  but  simply  the  cut  of  the  hindmost  heel, 
thus  giving  the  actual  distance  fairly  covered." 

In  commenting  on  the  documents  printed  above,  we  wish,  first  of  all, 
to  express  our  complete  confidence  in  the  honesty  and  accuracy  of  Mr. 
Whitney's  statements.     He  is  an  intelligent  gentleman,  of  liberal  educa- 


UNIVERSITY  ATHLETICS  247 

tion,  and  has  no  personal  interest  in  or  prejudice  for  or  against  either 
English  or  American  athletic  customs.  He  occupies  an  honorable  and 
responsible  position  on  the  editorial  staff  of  one  of  America's  most  relia- 
ble and  respectable  journals.  At  the  suggestion  of  his  employers  he 
visited  England  to  study  and  report  upon  English  amateur  athletic  sport. 
The  series  of  articles  published  after  his  return  were  uniformly  courteous 
and  notably  laudatory  of  almost  everything  he  saw  or  heard  in  England; 
so  much  so,  in  fact,  that  many  readers,  who  did  not  know  Mr.  Whitney 
personally,  supposed  that  the  articles  were  written  by  an  Englishman. 
His  statements  concerning  the  measurement  of  the  running  broad  jump 
were  not  censorious  or  written  in  carping  mood,  but  merely  rehearsed  in 
temperate  language  what  he  had  seen  during  his  sojourn  in  England. 
We  arc  firmly  convinced  that  his  statements  on  this  point  are  absolutely 
and  wholly  correct;  that  at  the  various  Oxford  and  Cambridge  sports, 
and  at  the  annual  inter-university  meeting,  he  saw  the  several  broad 
jumps  measured  to  the  final  resting-place  of  the  rearmost  heel,  thus 
making  each  jump  several  inches  longer  than  if  properly  measured. 

It  is  also  true  that  the  best  English  amateur  records  at  running  broad 
jump  have  been  held  continuously  for  more  than  twenty  years  by  mem- 
bers of  Cambridge  or  Oxford  universities,  and  that  each  of  the  several 
successive  records  thus  held  has  been  made  at  university  games.  Re- 
membering these  facts,  we  are  fully  convinced  that  each  of  these  succes- 
sive record-holders  received  credit  for  several  inches  more  than  was  fairly 
his  due,  because  measurement  was  made  to  the  final  imprint  of  the  heel 
instead  of  the  first  break  of  the  ground.  The  present  English  amateur 
record,  23  feet  6J  inches,  was  made  by  C.  B.  Fry,  of  Wadham  College, 
Oxford  University,  at  the  games  of  Trinity  College,  Oxford  University, 
Marcli  4, 1893,  and  we  firmly  believe  that  this  jump  was  measured  to  the 
final  imprint  of  his  rearmost  heel,  and  that,  if  measured  under  American 
rules,  it  would  not  have  been  more  than  23  feet  1  inch  or  23  feet  2  inches. 
We  are  satisfied  that  this  unfair  system  of  measurement  has  been  for 
years  and  is  still  in  use  at  the  English  universities,  and  that  all  published 
performances  made  in  their  games  need  correction  by  deducting  from  4 
inches  to  7  inches,  which  would  be  the  distance  gained  by  the  erroneous 
measurement. 

The  Athletic  Rules  of  the  English  Amateur  Athletic  Association  are 
most  curiously  divided.  Rules  1  to  24,  inclusive,  are  called  "Laws  for 
Athletic  Meetings  and  Competitions,"  and  all  amateur  clubs  must  obey 
and  enforce  these  24  laws.  Then  Rules  25  to  37,  inclusive,  are  labelled 
'•  Recommendations,"  and  clubs  can  obey  them  or  not,  as  they  choose. 
This  point  is  plainly  set  forth  in  an  article  entitled  "The  Conditions  of 


248  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

the  Contest,"  published  in  the  London  (Eng.)  Sportsman  of  July  14th,  and 
also  in  the  London  Sporting  Life  of  July  16th.  One  paragraph  of  this 
article  is  as  follows: 

"  With  reference  to  the  Oxford  and  Cambridge  regulations,  it  has  been 
repeatedly  stated  by  some  critics  in  Loudon  that  the  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge athletes  every  year  in  the  conduct  of  their  sports  violate  two  or 
three  of  the  laws  of  the  Amateur  Athletic  Association.  It  may  be  as  well 
to  correct  this  mistake  once  for  all.  Such  a  mistake  obviously  arises  from 
the  said  critics  confusing  the  laws  and  the  regulations  of  the  A.  A.  A. 
Oxford  and  Cambridge,  like  all  other  amateur  clubs  in  England,  cannot 
and  dare  not  break  any  of  the  essential  laws  formulated  by  the  A.  A.  A. 
The  regulations  of  the  Amateur  Athletic  Association  are  quite  another 
thing,  being  merely  recommendations  with  respect  to  the  most  desirable 
rules  of  racing.  Any  body  of  amateurs  is  therefore  at  liberty  to  adopt 
these  recommendations  or  to  follow  any  rules  of  racing  which  they  them- 
selves may  prefer." 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  that  the  Constitution,  Rules,  and  Laws 
of  the  A.  A.  A.,  corresponding  to  the  Constitution,  By-laws,  and  half  of 
the  General  Rules  and  Athletic  Rules  of  the  Amateur  Athletic  Union  of 
America,  are  binding  on  all  English  athletic  organizations;  but  that  the 
recommendations  of  the  A  A.  A.,  corresponding  to  the  other  half  of  the 
General  Rules  and  Athletic  Rules  of  the  Amateur  Athletic  Union,  carry 
no  mandatory  power,  and  every  English  athletic  club  is  at  liberty  to  adopt 
or  reject  any  or  all  of  them. 

The  English  universities  not  only  can  but  do  discard  some  of  the  ath- 
letic recommendations  of  the  A.  A.  A.,  and  substitute  rules  of  home  man- 
ufacture. They  put  the  shot  from  a  ten-foot  scjuare  instead  of  the  seven- 
foot  square  prescribed  by  the  recommendations  of  the  A.  A.  A.,  and  throw 
the  hammer  from  a  thirty-foot  circle  instead  of  the  nine-foot  circle  speci- 
fied in  the  A.  A.  A.  recommendations.  They  also  measure  the  running 
broad  jump  in  a  style  which  violates  the  established  custom,  if  not  tiie 
letter  of  the  Laws  of  the  A.  A.  A.  Oxford  and  Cambridge  liave  a  right 
to  go  still  further  and  to  adopt  such  other  unique  rules  as  they  wish. 
They  have  a  right  to  measure  their  cinder-paths  12  feet  instead  of  13 
inches  from  the  curb,  and  on  tracks  thus  measured  to  run  miles  in  4  m. 
13  s.,  beating  all  amateur  or  professional  records  of  the  world.  They 
have  a  right  to  cut  the  hurdles  down  a  foot,  and  then  rim  hurdle 
races  in  15  s.  In  fact,  they  have  an  undisputed  right  to  ignore  the 
athletic  recommendation  of  the  A.  A.  A.  and  manage  their  games  as 
they  please. 

And  any  other  English  athletic  club  or  sports  committee  has  the  same 
ripht. 


UNIVERSITY  ATHLETICS  249 

This  is  certainly  a  curious  condition  of  affairs,  and  until  reformation  is 
effected  no  performance  reported  at  any  English  athletic  meeting  deserves 
credence  until  it  is  known  under  what  rules  it  was  made,  and  how  it  was 
timed  or  measured. 

Having  thus  announced  our  full  confidence  in  the  statements  made  by 
Mr.  Whitney,  it  is  now  proper  to  state  that  we  also  believe  in  the  honesty 
and  accuracy  of  "  Vanderdecken  "  and  the  athletic  editors  of  Pastime, 
Sportsman,  and  Sporting  Life.  We  believe  that  English  university 
officials  at  English  university  sports  measure  the  running  broad  jump 
as  described  by  Mr.  Whitney ;  but  we  also  believe  that  many  English 
judges,  serving  at  other  English  athletic  meetings,  measure  to  what 
they  believe  to  be  the  point  where  the  rearmost  heel  first  cuts  the  earth. 
This  imaginary  or  rather  indeterminable  point  would  be  somewhere  be- 
tween the  point  of  measurement  used  at  the  English  universities  and 
that  adopted  in  America— probably  a  little  nearer  the  latter  than  the 
former. 

Omitting  for  the  present  any  consideration  of  Mr.  Whitney's  recital, 
and  confining  ourselves  exclusively  to  the  published  statements  of  "  Van- 
derdecken," Pastime,  Sportsman,  and  Sporting  Life,  it  is  not  hard  to  dis- 
cover some  points  which  are  admitted  by  both  sides. 

First,  there  is  a  difference  in  the  rules  governing  the  measurement  of 
the  running  broad  jump,  as  laid  down  by  the  Amateur  Athletic  Union  of 
Ameiica  and  the  Amateur  Athletic  Association  of  England. 

Secondly,  when  the  alighting  place  is  turf  or  hard  ground  the  meas- 
urement would  be  the  same  by  either  rule. 

Thirdly,  in  all  well-managed  athletic  meetings,  either  in  England  or 
America,  it  is  the  custom  to  spade  up  the  alighting  ground  for  the  run- 
ning broad  jump  like  a  garden  bed  and  rake  its  surface  smooth  between 
each  jump,  thus  giving  to  the  contestants  a  spot  so  soft  that  they  can 
extend  themselves  fully  without  fear  of  injury.  When  a  competitor  takes 
a  trial  and  walks  away  there  will  be  found  in  this  soft  earth  an  irregular 
hole,  varying  in  size  and  shape  according  to  how  much  of  the  jumper's 
person  came  in  contact  with  the  ground.  Under  American  rules  the 
measurement  would  be  made  from  the  scratch-line  to  that  point  of  the 
perimeter  of  this  hole  which  was  nearest  to  the  scratch-line.  Under  the 
English  methods  measurement  would  be  made  to  some  point  farther  from 
the  scratch-line  than  the  point  used  in  the  American  measurement,  thus 
making  the  jump  measure  more  than  under  American  rules.  The  exact 
point  to  which  this  English  measurement  is  made  has  been  variously 
described  by  different  English  athletic  authorities.  Pastime  claims  that 
it  is  to  "  the  nearest  disturbance  made  in  the  earth  by  the  foot."  "Van- 
derdecken" describes  it  as  "the  spot  where  the  rearmost  heel  first  cuts 


250  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

the  earth,  which  is  not  necessarily  the  spot  where  the  first  falling  away 
of  the  earth  is  observed."  And,  finally,  London  Sportsman  and  Sporting^ 
Life  agree  that  it  is  "  to  the  place  where  the  hindmost  heel  cuts  the  soil. 
English  judges  take  no  account  of  the  break  back  of  the  soil  behind,  but 
simply  the  cut  of  the  hindmost  heel." 

Fourthly,  these  English  authorities  differ  slightly  in  detail,  but  all 
admit  that  the  English  method  of  measurement  makes  each  jump  longer 
than  it  would  measure  under  American  rules. 

Fifthly,  owing  to  this  difference  in  measurement,  English  and  American 
records  do  not  stand  on  a  level  footing,  and  cannot  be  compared  without 
explanation.  It  is  evident  that  C.  B.  Fry,  of  Oxford,  does  not  share  with 
C.  S.  Reber,  of  St.  Louis,  the  honor  of  the  world's  best  record,  for  it  is 
admitted  by  all  interested  parties  that  Reber's  jump  would  have  measured 
more  than  Fry's  if  measured  by  English  methods.  E.  W.  Goff's  record, 
only  half  an  inch  behind  Reber's,  would  also,  if  measured  by  English 
methods,  be  longer  than  Fry's. 

These  five  propositions  are  proven  by  the  above-quoted  statements  of 
four  English  athletic  authorities— "Vanderdecken,"Pas<me,  Sportsman, 
and  Sporting  Life— and  those  English  athletes  and  editors  who  have  been 
snarling  at  such  American  newspapers  as  had  ventured  to  speak  the  truth 
on  this  subject  would  do  well  to  change  front  and  quarrel  with  their  own 
neighbors  and  friends,  who  admit  all  the  essential  points  ever  claimed  by 
an  American  newspaper. 

The  English  rule  seems  to  be  somewhat  inexplicit,  and  its  provisions 
have  been  variously  interpreted  by  different  officials.  Note  "  Vander- 
decken's"  language: 

"  .  .  And  what  the  judges  have  to  do  is  to  decide  where  the  first  con- 
tact of  the  last  heel  with  the  earth  has  taken  place.  I  have  it  from  one 
of  the  judges  who  measured  Fry's  record  jump  of  23  feet  6^  inches,  that 
the  first  mark  made  by  the  heel  was  one  of  the  most  clearly  defined  he 
had  ever  seen,  and  that  the  three  judges  were  unanimous  in  assigning  the 
position  of  the  first  break." 

If  these  words  mean  anything,  they  mean  that  the  judges  frequently 
have  difticulty  in  establishing  the  proper  point  of  measurement,  and  that 
when  the  three  judges  agree,  the  circumstance  is  so  imusual  as  to  be  note- 
worth3^ 

If  English  officials  sometimes  differ  as  to  the  practical  application  of 
their  own  law,  it  is  not  strange  that  American  athletes  should  be  unable 
to  understand  the  method  of  making  a  correct  measurement  under  the 
English  rule.    There  is  one  point  about  this  measurement  which  is  espe- 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS  251 

cially  mysterious  to  Americans,  and  we  appeal  to  our  Englisli  friends  for 
enlightenment. 

The  recondite  point  is  as  follows  •  After  the  jumper  has  made  his  effort 
and  withdrawn  from  the  alighting  ground,  there  remains  in  the  soft  earth 
an  irregular  hole  caused  by  the  jumper  alighting.  The  heels  of  the 
jumper  strike  the  surface  of  the  dirt  and  then  plough  forward  and  down- 
ward until  they  come  to  a  full  stoj),  the  distance  thus  travelled,  both  for- 
ward and  downward,  varying  with  the  softness  and  dryness  of  the  earth 
and  the  depth  to  which  it  is  loosened.  If  the  jumper  does  not  fall  down 
after  the  jump,  and  steps  squarely  out  of  the  soft  earth,  the  final  resting- 
place  of  his  heels  can  be  plainly  seen  at  the  bottom  of  the  hole  caused  by 
his  jump.  Under  American  rules  the  jump  would  be  measured  from  the 
scratch-line  to  that  part  of  the  hole  nearest  to  the  scratch-line,  and  as  the 
scratch-line  and  the  hole  are  in  plain  sight,  intelligent  and  honest  judges 
cannot  disagree  as  to  the  point  of  measurement.  The  Englishmen  meas- 
ure, not  to  the  nearest  part  of  the  hole,  but  to  the  point  where  the  judges 
think  the  jumper's  rearmost  heel  first  struck  the  dirt.  They  claim  that 
the  soft  earth  usually  breaks  back  and  tumbles  in  behind  this  point  of 
first  impact,  and  that  the  correct  distance  cleared  by  the  jumper  is  found 
by  measuring,  not  to  the  edge  of  the  hole,  but  to  the  point  where  the 
rearmost  heel  of  the  jumper  first  touched  the  ground.  Granting,  for  the 
sake  of  argument,  that  their  contention  is  just,  the  practical  question  is 
to  devise  a  method  of  exactly  locating  this  true  point  of  measurement. 
Mr.  Sherrill  states  that  Sheldon's  winning  jump,  23  feet  11  inches,  at  the 
Oxford- Yale  sports,  measured  only  23  feet  9J  inches  by  the  American 
rules,  and  it  is  probable  that  tiie  difference  between  the  two  styles  of 
measurement  w^ould  average  about  that  distance.  The  inside  of  the  hole 
made  by  the  jumper  slopes  from  its  edge  downward  and  inward  to  its 
bottom,  and  no  part  of  its  inner  surface  is  as  high  as  its  edge.  If  the  spot 
where  the  jumper's  rearmost  heel  first  touched  the  surface  of  the  alight- 
ing ground  is  farther  from  the  scratch-line  than  the  nearest  edge  of  the 
hole,  which  is  claimed  by  the  English  judges,  then  that  spot,  which  was 
necessarily  level  with  the  surface  of  the  alighting  ground,  must  be  in  mid- 
air, as  the  inner  faces  of  the  hole  slope  downward  and  inward  from  the 
edge.  There  can  be  no  dirt  nor  anything  but  air  at  the  spot  where  this  first 
impact  is  claimed  to  have  been  made.  If  a  spirit-level  were  laid  across 
the  hole,  the  desired  spot  would  be  on  the  under-side  of  that  spirit-level, 
an  inch  or  two  over  the  inner  sloping  surface  of  the  hole,  level  with  the 
edges  of  the  hole,  and  in  mid-air,  an  inch  or  two  away  from  the  nearest  dirt. 

Now,  the  conundrum  is,  How  do  those  English  judges  find,  and  measure 
to,  this  point  in  mid-air? 


262  A  Sl'OKTING  PILGRIMAGE 

We  shall  send  copies  of  this  article  to  "  Vanderdecken  "  and  to  the 
editors  of  Pastime,  Sportsman,  and  Sporting  Life,  and  trust  that  one  or 
all  of  them  will  instruct  us  how  to  locate,  and  measure  to,  a  point  in  mid- 
air whose  distance  and  direction  from  any  material  substance  except  the 
atmosphere  are  matters  of  guesswork. 

Meanwhile  we  venture  to  suggest  to  our  English  cousins  that  it  seems 
quite  possible  to  discuss  this  question  without  ill -nature  or  undue 
acerbity. 

My  criticism  of  the  methods  that  obtain  in  the  high 
jump  touches  the  length  of  pegs,  which  project  from  the 
upright  fully  four  inches.  What  so  long  a  peg  means, 
moreover,  Avas  instanced  m  the  performance  of  Swanwick, 
the  Oxford  winner  at  the  Oxford  -  Cambridge  games, 
March  17,  '94,  at  Queen's  Club,  Avho  hit  the  bar  so  vio- 
lently in  one  of  his  trials  (and  the  last  one,  by-the-way) 
that  it  bounced  into  the  air  and  fell  down  on  the  pegs 
quite  at  their  end.  Had  they  been  the  length  of  ours 
(three  mches),  the  bar  must  have  fallen  to  the  ground, 
and  Mr.  Swanwick  would  not  have  been  credited  with 
5  ft.  10^  in.,  though  he  made  a  record  of  5  ft.  11  in.  last 
year.  I  noticed,  too,  that  the  bar  sagged  in  the  centre, 
which,  however,  seemed  a  matter  of  indifference  to  the 
measurers. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  rules  of  the  Amateur  Athletic 
Association  of  Great  Britain  to  cover  these  points  I  have 
criticised ;  in  fact,  the  A.  A.  A.  rulings,  although  verbose, 
are  quite  loosely  put  together.  Regarding  the  high  jump, 
the  length  of  pegs  is  ignored,  and  they  might  be  a  foot 
long  for  all  the  rules  to  the  contrary  ;  as  to  measuring 
the  broad  jump,  it  is  set  forth  only  that  "  all  jumps  shall 
be  measured  to  the  taking-off  line  from  the  edge  to  the 
heel-mark  nearest  that  line,  along  a  line  perpendicular  to 
that  line" — certainly  more  redundant  than  lucid. 

The  average  hammer-throwing  and  shot-putting  form 
is  not  very  good,  tliough  I  was  told  this  year's  perform- 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS  253 

iinces  fell  below  the  usual  standard.  The  hammer  weighs 
the  same  as  ours,  sixteen  pounds,  including  the  3  ft.  6  in. 
handle,  which  differs  from  the  ones  we  use  in  being  stiff ; 
the  head,  too,  is  not  of  similar  shape,  but  oval,  lookino- 
very  much  like  an  enlarged  pecan-nut.  Instead  of  the 
seven -foot  circle  we  have,  the  English  university  athlete 
has  a  thirty-foot  circle,  and  the  performers  start  from  the 
edge  farthest  from  the  scratch,  and  after  getting  into 
their  swing  usually  make  three  progressive  turns  before 
reaching  the  scratch  and  letting  go  the  hammer.  The 
event  was  won  this  year  by  101  ft.  4r|  in.,  though  the 
best  university  record  is  138  ft.  3  in.,  made  in  1876,  at 
which  time  there  was  no  circle,  measure  being  taken 
from  the  last  footmark,  and  the  handle  was  not  limited  in 
length.  Outside  the  universities  the  hammer  is  thrown 
from  a  nine-foot  circle. 

The  16-pound  shot  is  put  from  a  ten-foot  square,  again 
an  advantage  over  our  seven-foot  circle,  and  the  seven- 
foot  square  that  is  customary  at  non-university  games  in 
Great  Britain,  and  was  won  this  year  by  a  performance 
of  37  ft.  6  in.,  which  is  five  inches  behind  the  English  uni- 
versity record. 

The  annual  dual  meeting  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge 
on  the  Queen's  Club  grounds  is  the  greatest  athletic 
event  of  England,  and  the  one  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
witnessing  this  year  proved  a  record  -  breaker  in  the 
matter  of  attendance,  I  believe,  as  12,000  spectators 
passed  through  the  gates.  It  draws  out  a  class  of  so- 
ciety equalled  in  quality  at  no  other  sporting  event  ex- 
cept the  cricket  match  at  Lords,  and  there  are  more  top- 
hats  to  be  seen,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  heads, 
than  at  any  other  one  -  afternoon  gathering  in  Great 
Britain.  The  small  number  of  officials  on  the  field  at  this 
meeting  appealed  to  me  strongly  as  a  most  sensible  de- 


254  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

parture  from  the  score  or  more  tliat  obstruct  the  view  of 
spectators  at  American  meetings.  There  were  only  nine 
at  Queen's,  including  but  one  timer,  which  is  the  rule ; 
consequently  they  carried  off  the  events  promptly,  and 
did  not  get  in  their  own  and  everybody  else's  way.  An- 
other pleasing  arrangement  is  the  manner  of  announc- 
ing results.  There  is  no  announcer,  but  the  winner's 
number  and  performance  are  put  on  two  large  black- 
boards, placed  so  as  to  be  visible  to  all  spectators,  while 
his  university  color,  over  that  of  the  second  man's  uni- 
versity, is  floated  from  a  flag -pole.  Each  event  is 
scheduled  on  the  programme  for  a  certain  hour,  and  is 
brought  off  on  time,  the  clerk  of  the  course  being  a 
groundsman  with  a  large-sized  bell,  to  the  vigorous  ring- 
ing of  which  the  men  respond  promptly,  or  run  the  risk 
of  losing  their  place. 

With  all  our  American  progression  there  seem  to  be  yet 
a,  few  simple  and  effective  customs  in  the  mother-country 
we  have  not,  up  to  date,  improved  upon. 

The  universities  of  Scotland  just  about  absorb  what 
little  there  is  of  athletics  in  that  country,  the  wave  that 
spread  over  England  having  spent  its  force  at  the  Tweed. 
There  are  ample  grounds  in  and  about  Edinburgh,  most 
beautifully  laid  out  and  picturesquely  situated ;  but  not- 
withstanding the  opportunities  there  are  few  athletic 
clubs  of  which  one  ever  hears,  although  football  clubs 
flourish  abundantly,  a  statement  that  applies  likewise  to 
Glasgow  and  Aberdeen.  The  universities  and  schools  of 
these  cities  hold  their  own  games,  but  there  are  no  joint 
meetings.  The  Scottish  Association  has  labored  to  put 
more  life  into  athletics  among  the  better  classes,  but  with 
little  if  any  avail :  the  average  Scotchman  of  the  best 
sort  usually  fills  a  place  in  the  work -a- day  world  he 
cannot  neglect,  and  when  he  does  take   an   outing  he 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS  255 

picks  up  a  rifle  or  his  beloved  golf -club.  There  is  some 
pretty  fair  polo  in  Scotland,  likewise  a  little  hunting,  but 
not  at  the  universities. 

There  is  more  activity  in  athletics  in  Ireland,  Trinity 
College,  Dublin,  having  fine  grounds,  and  being  undoubt- 
edly the  best -known  college,  athletically  speaking,  out- 
side Oxford  and  Cambridge.  Queen's  Colleges  at  Cork 
and  Belfast  hold  games  also,^but,  even  so,  as  in  Scotland, 
there  are  no  inter-university  meetings,  and  a  represent- 
ative is  rarely  seen  away  from  home.  There  are  a  number 
of  Irish  clubs  which  do  not  attract  the  best  element,  and 
without  the  dual  university  meetings,  as  in  England,  ath- 
letics in  Scotland  and  Ireland  maintain  but  an  indifferent 
•existence. 

And  now  that  I  have  come  to  the  last  of  this  univer- 
sity series,  I  wish  to  dwell  for  a  few  lines  on  the  influence 
athletics  have  had  upon  the  English  undergraduate  in 
lessening  dissipation  and  raising  the  average  of  scholar- 
ship, a  side  of  this  great  question  of  sport  in  our  univer- 
sities at  home  and  abroad  that  to  me,  at  least,  seems  the 
most  important. 

I  found  athletics  in  the  English  as  in  American  uni- 
A^ersities  to  have  worked  appreciably  in  raising  the  gen- 
eral tone  of  the  colleges,  singly  and  collectively,  in  giving 
a  more  wholesome  aptitude  for  study,  in  strengthening 
the  morale  of  the  student  body,  and  in  better  fitting  men 
for  not  only  their  work  at  the  university,  but  for  the 
serious  business  of  life  when  they  had  gone  out  into  the 
world.  Old  graduates  of  both  Oxford  and  Cambridge 
who  have  kept  in  touch  with  the  alma  mater  assured 
me  my  investigations  did  not  belie  the  facts,  and  that 
there  is  tangible  evidence  at  every  hand  to  prove  the 
inestimable  value  of  judicious  participation  in  sport. 

It  is  true,  however,  I   did  not  find  the  results  in  the 


256  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

English  universities  so  marked  nor  so  general  throughout 
the  undergraduates  as  in  the  American  institutions,  and 
for  two  very  good  reasons :  In  the  first  place,  it  is  an 
undoubted  fact,  as  I  have  already  written,  that  the  aver- 
age Englishman  is  naturally  more  athletically  inclined 
than  the  average  American,  and  that  the  former,  being 
no  stranger  to  athletic  influences,  would,  therefore,  be 
less  susceptible  to  its  workings,  and  the  results  not  so 
noticeable  as  in  the  case  of  the  latter ;  secondly,  a  class 
of  men  is  to  be  found  at  Oxford  and  Cambridge  that 
goes  there  merely  for  the  experience  of  university  life, 
and  with  no  preconceived  idea  of  subsequently  using  its 
lessons  in  any  profession  or  business.  These  men  may  or 
may  not  remain  throughout  the  course  for  a  degree,  and 
the  system  extant  at  both  universities  permits  the  exist- 
ence of  such  a  class.  There  is  no  examination  on  matric- 
ulation at  Cambridge  except  a  college  one,  which  is  not 
universal.  The  ordinary  pass  man  has  "  Little  Go," 
"  General,"  and  "  Special "  to  pass  at  the  end  of  his  first, 
second,  and  third  years  respectively.  The  honor  man  has 
"  Little  Go,"  and  then  his  Tripos  at  the  end  of  his  time, 
and  college  examination  at  the  end  of  each  May  term. 
At  Oxford  there  is  an  examination  on  matriculation,  and 
an  intermediate  university  examination  both  for  honors 
and  a  pass  degree.  At  Cambridge  there  is  no  intermediate 
examination  for  honor  men,  and  at  both  there  are  annual 
college  examinations,  but  they  are  not  followed  up  so 
strictly  as  in  our  universities. 

L'nless  he  goes  in  for  honors,  the  Oxford  or  Cambridge 
undergraduate  may  arrange  to  have  a  rather  easy  time  of 
it  throughout  his  course,  whereas  the  American  univer- 
sity man  must  attend  recitations  to  keep  up  his  standing 
and  pass  an  examination  every  term  of  his  course,  or  be 
dropped.     I  must  conclude,  after  looking  the  field  over 


UNIVERSITY  ATHLETICS  257 

carefully,  that  the  American  university  man  will  average 
higher  in  scholarship  than  the  Englishman. 

The  average  man,  or,  it  may  be  said,  practically  every 
man  who  goes  to  an  American  university,  has  a  definite 
purpose  of  utilizing  the  education  acquired  there  in 
whatever  business  or  profession  he  may  have  chosen 
for  his  life's  Avork ;  and  the  average  American  does 
choose  a  life's  work,  even  if  he  is  blessed  with  an  ample 
fortune. 

In  England  nearly  every  man  of  gentle  birth  one  meets 
seems  to  have  at  least  a  competency  from  some  source  ; 
and  as  one  can  live  as  well  over  there  on  two  thousand 
dollars  a  year  as  on  six  over  here,  one  finds  an  astonish- 
ingly large  class  of  young  men  of  moderate  incomes  and 
large  prospects,  with  ample  leisure  to  spend  the  one  and 
await  the  other.  To  these  the  importance  of  study  and 
its  influence  on  their  subsequent  life  decreases  in  propor- 
tion as  prospects  increase,  and  an  education  becomes  a 
matter  of  culture,  and  not  necessarily  a  matter  of  useful- 
ness in  their  after-career.  As  a  considerable  percentage 
of  this  class  is  always  to  be  found  in  residence  at  Oxford 
and  Cambridge,  it  follows  that  the  university  average  is 
lowered  to  just  that  extent. 

It  may  be  a  popular,  but  it  is  certainly  a  fallacious, 
American  conception  that  those  of  noble  birth  receive 
especial  distinction  at  the  English  public  schools  and  the 
universities.  Rank  takes  no  precedent  in  either  social  or 
sporting  life  at  Oxford,  Cambridge,  Eton,  or  Harrow ;  nor 
is  a  man  put  on  the  team  or  crew  because  his  name  hap- 
pens to  be  prefaced  with  a  "  Lord  "  or  a  "  Sir."  He  takes 
equal  chances  with  the  rest,  and  all  that  is  expected  of 
him,  or  any  man,  is  to  be  a  good  "  chap  "  and  a  gentleman  ; 
if  he  is  not,  all  the  blue  blood  in  England  won't  float  him 
into  the  clubs  (there  are  no  societies,  as  with  us),  or  into 

17 


258  A   SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

the  rooms  of  those  who  are  good  chaps  when  they  are 
"  sporting  "  their  "  oaks."  Nor  is  the  man  with  nothing 
to  commend  him  but  his  athletic  prowess  made  the  lion 
he  is  at  some  of  our  universities.  If  he  is  a  boor,  all  the 
athletic  ability  in  Christendom  will  not  prove  an  open 
sesame  for  him. 

Before  I  put  down  my  pen  I  must  bring  to  the  surface 
a  fact  that  gave  me  considerable  pleasure  in  the  discovery. 

It  is  rather  a  unique  departure  for  England  to  show  us 
the  enlightened  path,  and  yet,  thanks  to  the  joint  promul- 
gation of  our  Secretaries  of  War  and  ]N"avy  against  foot- 
ball between  West  Point  and  Annapolis,  the  Old  World 
is  just  at  present  holding  the  torch  aloft  for  the  N^ew. 

The  honorable  Secretaries,  whose  opinions  on  sport 
would  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  their  personal  experi- 
ence had  stopped  short  at  croquet  and  mumble-the-peg, 
have  proclaimed  against  inter-academy  contests,  despite 
the  report  of  the  West  Point  Commandant  that  football 
has  proved  a  stimulant  to  discipline,  by  bringing  about  a 
kindlier  feeling  between  the  officers  and  cadets,  and  that 
its  dangers  are  no  greater  than  the  prescribed  horseback 
riding,  and  that  athletics  have  been  beneficial  to  scholar- 
ship and  an  aid  to  discipline. 

The  Koyal  Naval  College  at  Greenwich,  the  Eoyal  Mili- 
tary Academy  at  Woolwich,  and  the  Royal  Military  Col- 
lege at  Sandhurst,  which  correspond  to  the  United  States 
Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis  and  the  United  States 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  not  only  are  encouraged 
by  the  government  to  foster  athletics,  but  hold  annual 
inter  football,  athletic,  and  cricket  contests  as  well.  They 
have  never  found  that  these  sports  interfered  with  the 
cadets'  duties  nor  affected  their  discipline,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, military  and  naval  men  of  Great  Britain  are  openly 
the  stanchest  advocates  of  such  athletic  training. 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS  261 

Apropos  of  wliicli  I  quote  the  following  from  the 
Saturday  Review : 

MILITARY    VALUE    OF    SPOET 

The  value  of  sport  as  a  means  of  developing  and  training  soldiers  has 
always  been  recognized  in  all  armies,  and,  as  regards  officers,  at  any 
rate,  has  been  well  appreciated  by  us.  A  distinguislied  cavalry  officer 
stated  in  public  a  few  years  ago  that,  in  his  opinion,  no  man  was  fit  to 
hold  a  commission  who  did  not  ride  fairly  well  to  hounds.  The  immor- 
tal Jorrocks,  too,  was  not  slow  to  appreciate  the  relation  between  war 
and  its  image,  with  only  25  per  cent,  of  its  danger.  In  India  we  en- 
courage our  men  to  go  out  into  tlie  country  on  shooting  expeditions,  and 
a  few  enthusiasts  at  home  have  even  allowed  the  "woollies"  an  occa- 
sional sight  of  the  hounds.  The  Great  Duke  kept  a  pack  in  the  Peninsu- 
la, and  a  race  meeting  has  not  seldom  formed  the  closing  act  of  many 
of  our  little  wars.  But  it  has  been  left  to  our  friends  the  Russians  to 
definitely  organize  sporting  expeditions  on  a  large  scale,  with  a  view  to 
giving  realistic  instruction  to  their  rank  and  file.  Hunting  fosters  nerve 
<and  manly  qualities.  It  cannot  fail  to  improve  horsemanship ;  but  it 
makes  a  man  far  more  than  a  mere  rider.  It  teaches  him  to  husband 
and  save  his  horse's  energies,  study  his  idiosyncrasies,  and,  above  all, 
perhaps,  bring  home  to  him  the  need  of  thoughtful  stable  management 
and  careful  fitting  of  saddles  and  bridles.  A  man  who  hunts  grows  ac- 
customed to  finding  his  way  about  in  a  strange  country ;  he  acquires  an 
eye  for  ground,  and  becomes  resourceful  in  danger  or  difficulties.  Thus 
it  affords,  perhaps,  the  best  training-ground  a  mounted  man  can  liave. 

But  victories  are  won  mainly  by  infantry,  and  nowadays  especially, 
when  formations  are  loose,  a  foot-soldier  must  have  a  head  on  his  shoul- 
ders. It  was  stalking  deer  and  antelope  that  made  the  Boers  the  danger- 
ous foes  we  found  them,  and  the  man  who  has  been  brought  up  as  a 
gamekeeper  is  the  most  valuable  prize  of  the  recruiting  sergeant.  The 
Oermans,  for  this  reason,  have  called  their  smartest  regiments  "  Jagers," 
and  the  French  "Chasseurs"  illustrate,  too,  the  appreciation  which  the 
same  class  meet  with,  and  have  ever  met  with,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Rhine.  Our  riflemen  are  distinguished  by  no  such  characteristic  title, 
but  are  clothed  in  the  traditional  green  affected  by  the  natives  of  the 
woods.  However,  ' '  Jagers  "  and  ' '  Chasseurs  "  can  no  more  all  be  sports- 
men than  kilted  men  in  our  service  can  all  claim  a  birthplace  north  of 
the  Tweed,  and  the  name  is  but  a  survival  of  the  olden  time. 

In  France  and  Germany  game-preserves  and  tillage  have  destroyed  any 
chance  there  might  ever  have  been  of  allowing  the  natural  instincts  of 
men  a  free  outlet.  But  in  Russia  there  is  more  scope,  and  the  chance  a 
sparsely  populated  country  offers  has  not  been  thrown  away.  Hunts 
have  of  late  years  been  set  on  foot  in  the  neighborhood  of  military  sta- 
tions in  which  whole  battalions  occasionally  have  taken  part.  The 
quarry  has  usually  been  a  bear  marked  down  by  the  villagers  in  an  ad- 
joining forest,  and  the  excitement  of  pursuing  an  animal  with  a  reputa- 


262  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

tion  in  popular  imagination  for  ferocity  forms  a  delightful  break  in  the 
weary  monotony  of  barrack  life.  So  far,  however,  as  we  have  gathered 
from  some  accounts  of  these  expeditions,  poor  Bruin  has  but  a  small 
chance,  indeed,  and  is  simply  surrounded  by  a  howling  crowd  of  ex- 
cited men,  who  destroy  him  by  sheer  weight  of  numbers.  Little  of 
value  in  Avar  or  anywhere  else  can  be  derived  from  such  performances  ; 
but  all  hunts  arc  not  of  this  character,  and  better  management  is  displayed 
in  many  districts.  The  Russian  military  authorities  are  now,  indeed, 
quite  alive  to  the  benefit  that  may  be  derived  from  encouraging  a  real 
love  of  sport,  and  definite  rules  and  regulations  have  quite  recently  been 
drawn  up  with  a  view  to  making  the  most  of  the  special  opportunities 
many  of  their  troops  enjoy. 

But,  after  all,  only  a  small  proportion  of  troops  can  taste  such  joys,  and 
in  most  places  there  may  be  a  good  deal  of  hunting  and  very  little  game, 
while  equipments,  and  what  our  Indian  officers  would  term  "bando- 
basts,"  have  to  be  on  a  iiarticularly  modest  scale.  Indeed,  in  most  parts 
of  European  Russia  the"  Jiigers  "  have  to  be  contented  with  but  the  im- 
age of  their  craft,  and  there  is  considerably  more  of  instruction  than 
amusement  about  their  expeditions.  Scouting  and  reconnaissance  duties 
against  an  imaginary  foe  are  hardly  so  exciting  as  stalking  and  tracking 
beasts  of  prey ;  but  the  man  who  is  an  adept  at  one  will  probably  excel 
at  the  other,  and  the  same  qualities  will  be  developed  by  practice  at 
either.  Marksmanship  will  of  course  be  the  first  essential  when  either 
animals  or  men  are  the  quarries,  and  target  practice  is,  therefore,  an  ob- 
vious part'of  training.  Judging  distances,  too,  will  be  attended  to,  while 
a  man's  muscles  may  be  usefully  developed  by  gymnastics,  fencing,  run- 
ning, and  leaping. 

THE  OXFORD-YALE  TRACK  ATHLETIC  MEETING, 
July  16,  1894 
Although  the  result  of  the  Oxford- Yale  athletic  meet- 
ing was  not  unexpected,  the  contest  furnished  much  food 
for  thought  and  some  surprises  that  had  been  entirely  un- 
looked  for.  If  there  is  any  one  branch  of  track  athletics 
more  than  another  in  which  we  have  flattered  ourselves  on 
being  invulnerable,  it  certainly  was  sprinting,  where  our 
notable  quickness  in  getting  off  the  mark  would  count  for 
much.  Yet  Sanford  and  Pond  (Yale),  with  records  of 
lOi,  were  third  and  fourth  in  the  100  yards,  to  Fry  and 
Jordan  (Oxford)  in  10|  sec,  and  only  Fry  had  ever  bet- 
tered that  time  previously.  Again  in  the  hurdles,  Cady 
(Yale),  Avith  a  16-second  record  on  cinders,  was  run  down 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS  263 

and  off  his  stride,  so  that  he  went  to  pieces  and  fell  at  the 
last  hurdle,  in  16|  on  turf  by  Oakle}''  (Oxford),  whose  best 
previous  performance  had  been  16%.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  the  turf  ^vas  heavy,  but  not  so  much  so  as  to  keep 
the  Oxford  man  from  going  the  distance  in  his  top  form. 
In  the  quarter-mile  dash,  the  best  race  by  all  odds  of  the 
day,  Sanford  (Yale),  with  a  50|-sec.  record,  was  beaten 
out  after  a  gallant  struggle  in  51  sec.  by  Jordan  (Oxford), 
whose  record  is  the  same  as  Sanford's.  In  the  half-mile, 
Woodhull  (Yale),  record  1:591,  was  defeated  in  2  min. 
I  sec.  by  Greenhow  (Oxford),  who  had  previously  run  a 
mile  in  4  min.  24§  sec,  and  had  no  previously  established 
record  for  the  half. 

In  other  words,  in  the  very  department  of  athletics  in 
which  we  have  always  considered  ourselves  strongest  we 
turned  out  to  be  weakest,  and  instead  of  excelling  where 
speed  and  agility  are  essential,  we  lost  every  event  but  two 
where  those  attributes  are  requisite  (one  of  which  was  a 
tie).  Of  nine  men  comprising  the  Yale  team,  two  only, 
Hickok  and  Sheldon,  saved  it  from  an  utter  rout,  and  only 
four  secured  points. 

Before  going  deeper  into  the  subject  let  me  hasten  to 
say  to  those  who  might  incorrectly  interpret  what  is  here 
written  that  there  is  no  intention  of  either  criticising 
the  Yale  athletes,  or  excusing  their  defeat ;  they  trained 
conscientiously,  made  a  hard  struggle  to  win,  and  were 
fairly  beaten.  Unquestionably  the  strange  sun-oundings 
handicapped  them  to  a  certain  extent,  but  in  no  case 
may  the  result  of  the  meeting  be  set  down  to  "hard  luck," 
since  in  the  only  event  where  such  an  element  might  be 
thought  to  have  figured,  i.e.,  the  hurdles,  the  Oxford  man 
was  a  winner  before  Cady  fell.  In  all  contests  where 
the  teams  are  evenly  matched,  the  home  men  invariably 
have  whatever  advantage  familiar  surroundings  and  cli- 


264 


A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 


mate  are  supposed  to  give,  but  these  differences  do  not 
appear  in  this  instance  to  have  been  sufficient  to  turn  de- 
feat into  victory.  Oxford  won  the  day  on  its  merits,  and 
because  every  man  turned  up  fit  to  stand  the  wear  and 
tear  and  excitement  of  an  important  struggle,  and  did  all 
that  was  expected  of  him. 

In  three  events  on  the  programme,  the  100  and  880 
yards  and  120-yard  hurdles,  Yale  did  neither  so  Avell  as 
had  been  expected,  nor  reached  normal  form  ;  and  I  have 
plunged  into  all  this  detail  to  bring  the  case  up  to  this 
point,  and  to  ask  our  universities  whether  there  is  not  a 
good,  wholesome  lesson  to  be  learned  from  this  Oxford- 
Yale  meeting.  Are  we  not  training  our  college  athletes 
too  much  ?  Have  we  not  been  carrying  preparation  too 
far  in  all  branches  of  our  college  sport  ?  I  have  already 
commented  on  the  great  difference  that  exists  between 
English  and  American  university  athletes  in  this  particu- 
lar. 1  have  shown,  to  come  to  the  point  under  discussion, 
how  little  of  it  is  done  in  track  athletics,  especially  as  com- 
pared with  the  superlatively  trained  American  university 
men.     And  yet  these  Oxford  sprinters,  with  poorer  rec- 


OXFORD-YALE  TRACK  AND  FIELD 


Event. 

Oxford. 

1 

Firsts. 

Seconds. 

Winner. 

Firsts. 

Seconds. 

Winner. 

100-yard  dash 

440-yard  run 

1-2 

1 
1 

f  C.  B.  Fry,  > 

\g.  Jordan.; 

G.  Jordan. 

(W.n.Greenhow,) 

1-2 

1 
1 

1 

1 

1 

1 
1 

G.  F.  Sauford. 

i 
1 
(L.  P.  Sheldon,  1  i 
\   E.  H.  Uady.    f 
L.  P.  Sheldon. 
(W.O.  Hickok,) 
)  A.  J.  Blown.  ( 
(W.O.  Hickok,) 
\  A.  J.  Brown,  f 

Mile  run              .  ... 

^        I  1  W.  G.Grcenhow,^ 

120-yard  hurdle 

Running  high  jump.. 
Running  broad  jump. 
IC-lb.  shot 

1 
1 

(  i>.  M.  iiiinyara.  ) 

fSV.  J.  Oakley,) 

1  T.  S.  Scott.   / 

E.D.  Swan  wick. 

W.  J.  Oakley. 

16-lb.  hammer 

6  1-2 

5 

3  1-2 

4 

UNIVERSITY  ATHLETICS 


265 


ords  than  the  Yale  athletes  the}^  met,  were  equal  to  beating 
them,  and  in  one  or  two  instances  with  something  to  spare. 

The  Oxford  team  averaged  neither  older  nor  heavier 
than  Yale.  To  what,  then,  may  be  ascribed  the  reversal 
of  Yale's  form,  say  in  the  100  and  880  yard  events?  I 
do  not  think  the  heavy  track  nor  the  strange  surround- 
ings explain  it.  I  have  always  been  convinced  that  we 
do  too  much  "training,"  and  these  Oxford -Yale  games 
strengthen  my  conviction.  Boys  are  put  through  a  gruel- 
ling that  none  but  a  seasoned  athlete  should  be  called  upon 
to  undergo.  They  are  worked  up  to  practically  the  last 
hour,  and  enter  the  race  so  "  fine  "  that,  when  unusual  cir- 
cumstances arise,  having  no  reserve  fund,  they  go  to  pieces. 

Unless  one  has  stood  on  the  mark  in  an  exciting,  im- 
portant contest,  he  cannot  appreciate  what  it  means  to  be 
so  fine  that  one's  nerves  are  on  the  ragged  edge,  and  like- 
ly to  collapse  at  the  first  intimation  of  the  unexpected. 
You  need  your  nerves  in  a  race,  and  3'ou  want  them  in 
good  working  condition,  otherwise  Avhen  you  get  on  the 
mark  your  muscles  seem  suddenl}'  to  have  lost  their  pow- 
er and  elasticity,  and,  unless  you  are  an  exceptional  mor- 


ATHLETIC  MEETING,  JULY 


Performance. 

10  2-5  sec. 

51 

2  m.       4-5   " 

4"    24  2-5    " 

IG  3-5    " 

5  ft.    S  3-4  ill. 

22"     11 

41  "      4  1-4  ■' 

(T-foot  mil.) 
110  ft.    5  ill. 

(7-f()0t  run.) 

1 

Performance  at 
Oxford-Cambriils-e 
(ianies,  Miirch,  ".14. 


10  3-5  sec. 
50  4-5  " 

t4  m.  19  4-5   " 
IG  3-5   " 

5  ft.  10  14  ill. 
22  "     4  " 

t3T  "     6 

(lO-foot  run.) 
101  ft.   4  1-2  in. 

(30-fi)ot  run.) 


no- 2  5  s^ec. 
+50 


31 


tlG 
t5  ft.  0  1-2  in. 
21  "  9  1-2  " 
40  "  1  1-2  " 
(7-foot  run.) 
113  ft.  11  in. 
(7-f()ot  run.) 


10        sec, 
49  4-5   " 
1  m.  54  2-5   " 
4  "    19  4-5    " 
16 

6  ft.    2  1-2  In. 
*23  "     G  1-2  " 
/  39  "     1 
(     (10- foot  run.) 
1138  ft.    3  in. 
I  (unlimited  run.) 


10       sec. 
49  1-2   " 
1  m.  54  1-2  " 
4  "  26  4-5   " 
15  4-5   " 
6  ft.    4        in. 
23  "     C  1-2  " 
<  42  " 

\     (7-foot  run.) 
/123  ft.    9  in. 
\    (7-foot  run.) 


English  Measurement.        f  Won  by  Cambridge.        J  Won  by  Harvard. 


266  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

tal,  you  are  rattled,  and  as  a  natural  result  fall  far  short 
of  your  form.  I  do  not  pretend  to  say  these  Yale  men 
Avere  under -trained  or  over  -  trained  ;  they  were  unques- 
tionably prepared  on  the  approved  American  university 
system,  and  made  as  good  a  showing  as  any  others  would 
have  done  under  the  same  conditions. 

The  performances  of  these  men  are  a  mere  incident, 
though  they  furnish  the  first  opportunity  of  testing  our 
way  with  that  of  the  Old  "World  university  methods,  and 
I  take  it  as  a  text  for  reiterating  what  I  have  preached  at 
more  or  less  length  at  different  times  on  the  questionable 
policy  of  giving  our  college  athletes  so  much  "  training." 
It  has  always  seemed  to  me  a  matter  deserving  much 
more  serious  consideration  than  has  been  given  ;  and  hav- 
ing been  brought  home  by  the  Oxford- Yale  meeting  in 
the  most  practical  of  illustrations,  may  we  not  hope  that 
it  will  receive  the  discussion  it  merits  among  American 
college  authorities  and  alumni  ? 

Nothing  results  from  forced  development;  healthful 
growth  may  only  be  obtained  by  common-sense  and  nat- 
ural methods.  We  make  too  much  of  a  business  of  our 
sport.  Let  us  invest  it  with  a  little  more  of  the  recreative 
feature.  We  will  Avin  just  as  man}^  points,  and  give  it 
more  of  a  wholesome  tendency.  Entirely  apart  from  an 
ethical  point  of  view,  we  will  place  our  teams  afield  much 
better  fitted  to  Avin  athletic  honors  for  the  alma  mater. 
If  any  further  illustration  is  needed  to  emphasize  Avhat  I 
say  on  this  subject  of  excessive  training,  let  me  recall  the 
Yale-Princeton  game  Avhich  closed  the  football  season  of 
1893.  The  Yale  eleven  had  been  prepared  in  the  same  old 
Avay  of  driving  the  men  early  and  late,  late  and  early,  un- 
til about  all  the  life  and  ginger  had  been  worked  out  of 
them.  Princeton,  on  the  other  hand,  had  taken  a  step  in 
advance  of  all  the  colleefes,  and  trained  its  team  on  a 


.^ 


i 


i^      \ 


P 


lV 


\V     II    IMtF.F.NIIoW.  Kx.t.-i- 
UK    OXKOUn    TI!\(K    ATIII.KTIC    TKAM 


^    '*- 


AVHICH   MET   AND   DEFEATED   YALE 


UNIVERSITY   ATHLETICS  271 

more  rational  system,  i.e.^  of  giving  them  hard,  sharp 
work,  but  with  intervals  of  lighter  practice.  As  a  result 
they  faced  Yale  with  quite  as  much  endurance  and 
muscles  just  as  hard,  but  with  a  dash  in  their  movements 
that  made  Yale  seem  loggy  in  comparison.  Such  a  prac- 
tical demonstration  we  have  never  had  in  rowing,  simply 
because  the  Harvard  and  Yale  eights  are  trained  on  the 
same  system,  and  the  perfection  of  the  latter's  crew- 
work  and  the  perpetuation  of  a  winning  stroke  have  kept 
the  blue  too  far  in  advance  of  the  crimson  on  the  water 
to  permit  of  a  test.  Something  of  a  comparison,  however, 
may  be  drawn  between  Yale  and  Cornell,  although  they 
have  not  met  in  recent  years.  Cornell  crews  do  nowhere 
near  the  amount  of  training  of  either  Harvard  or  Yale, 
yet  their  four-mile  rowing  in  the  last  two  years  against 
Pennsylvania  shows  they  have  both  speed  and  endurance 
to  such  a  degree  that  only  an  actual  race  could  determine 
the  faster.  Again,  the  few  Western  college  crews,  al- 
though their  form  is  crude,  all  evince  endurance  at  a  good 
rate  of  speed,  and  on  a  great  deal  less  training  than  any 
of  the  Eastern  university  eights. 

I  have  digressed  a  long  way  from  the  athletic  meet- 
ing on  the  Queen's  grounds  July  16,  '94,  but  if  I  have  in 
the  slightest  degree  brought  home  to  our  universities  the 
folly  and  unwholesomeness  of  excessive  training,  I  shall 
not  begrudge  the  space.     . 

The  100-yard  dash,  the  first  event  of  the  Oxford- Yale 
meeting,  was  tliought  even  by  the  Englishmen  to  be  a 
sure  first  for  Yale,  but  Fry  upset  all  calculations  by  get- 
ting off  the  mark  from  a  Sheffield  start  before  Pond,  who 
used  the  crouching  position,  and  went  away  with  such  a 
burst  of  speed  that  he  was  never  caught,  finishing  a  3^ard 
ahead  of  his  mate,  Jordan.  The  hammer  and  shot  were 
very  easy  Avins  for  Ilickok  and  Brown,  who  took  first 


272  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

and  second  in  each,  completely  outclassing  the  Oxford 
men. 

Despite  the  fact  of  its  being  run  on  turf,  the  120-yard 
hurdle  was  also  considered  a  Yale  event ;  but  although 
Cady  got  away  first,  Oakley  was  too  strong  for  him,  and 
when  he  struck  his  pace,  cut  down  the  lead  rapidly, 
having  the  race  in  hand  when  Cady  fell  at  the  last 
hurdle.  The  mile  run  had  been  conceded  to  Oxford, 
Greenhow's  performance  in  the  Oxford-Cambridge  sports 
last  March  having  stamped  him  a  class  above  Morgan. 
Eoth  Oxford  men,  Greenhow  and  Ilildyard,  led  Yale 
from  the  start,  Hildj^ard  cutting  out  the  pace  for  a  third 
the  distance,  when  Greenhow  went  to  the  front  and  won 
by  over  fifty  yards,  Morgan  being  third. 

The  quarter-mile  was  regarded  an  even  thing,  with  the 
odds  in  favor  of  Oxford,  and  it  turned  out  to  be  the  best 
race  of  the  day.  Sanford  made  a  game  struggle,  but 
Jordan  was  too  strong  for  him  on  the  finish,  and  won  in 
the  last  twenty  yards  handily.  The  half-mile  was  a  great 
surprise,  Woodhull  being  thought  a  sure  winner,  but  he 
seemed  to  go  to  pieces,  and  could  get  no  better  than  third 
in  slower  time  than  he  has  shown  this  year.  Probably 
the  greatest  surprise  of  the  day,  certainly  for  Oxford,  was 
Fry's  defeat  in  the  broad  jump  by  Sheldon ;  but  the  lat- 
ter is  one  of  those  atliletes,  with  liis  lieart  in  the  riglit 


YALE    ATHLETIC    TEAM 

Ernest  Hyde  Cady,  '95  S.  S.  S.,  Hartfon],  Conn. 
William  Sayre  Woodhull,  '96  Acad.,  Orange,  X.  J. 
Lewis  Pendleton  Sheldon,  '96  Acad.,  Rutland,  Vt. 
Alexander  Brown,  Jr., '96  Acad.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
George  Bates  Hatch,  '96  Acad.,  Cincinnati,  0. 
(ieorge  Foster  Sanford,  Law  School,  Woodmont,  Conn. 
William  Orville  Hickok,  '95  S.  S.  S.,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 
Ashley  Pond,  Jr.,  '96  S.  S.  S.,  Detroit,  Mich. 
Joseph  Eliaa  Morgan,  '94  Acad.,  Essex,  Conn. 


UNIVERSITY  ATHLETICS  2*75 

place,  who  can  always  be  depended  on  to  do  his  best  and 
a  little  more ;  he  invariably  rises  to  the  occasion,  and  this 
time  his  work  saved  two  events  that  on  paper  belonged  to 
Oxford.  His  22  ft.  11  in.  jump  was  a  fine  performance, 
though  it  must  be  remembered  this  is  English  measure- 
ment, and  even  had  it  beaten  it,  could  have  had  no  bear- 
ing on  the  American  inter-collegiate  record,  22:11^,  held 
by  Victor  Mapes.  Tying  the  high  jump  with  Swan- 
wnck  was  equally  notable,  for  the  Oxford  man  had  done 
5:11,  while  Sheldon's  best  is  an  inch  lower. 

From  beginning  to  end  the  games  were  conducted  in 
a  sportsmanlike  manner,  and  the  meeting  has  unquestion- 
ably brought  English  and  American  universities  nearer 
together  than  they  have  ever  been. 

Now  that  we  have  finally  brought  off  an  international 
inter-university  meeting,  there  seems  to  be  no  good  reason 
why  they  should  not  be  made  an  occasional  feature.  It 
will  be  wiser,  however,  and  undoubtedly  create  a  more 
wide-spread  interest,  to  broaden  the  idea  so  as  to  include 
the  full  strength  of  Harvard  and  Yale  against  Oxford 
and  Cambridge. 

Whatever  the  future  may  provide,  Americans  are  deep- 
ly grateful  for  the  spirit  that  prompted  Yale  to  send  a 
team,  and  proud  of  the  manly  bearing  of  the  individual 
athletes,  who  even  in  the  hour  of  unexpected  defeat  bore 
themselves  like  sportsmen  and  Americans.  The  follow- 
ing summary,  from  London  Fields  gives  detail  of  this  first 
meeting  between  English  and  American  university  teams : 

100  Yards  Race.—C.  B.  Fry,  Wadham,  Oxford,  1;  G.  Jordan,  Univer- 
sity, Oxford,  2;  G.  F.  Sauford,  Woodford,  Conn.,  3;  A.  Pond,  Detroit, 
Mich.,  0.  Fry  had  the  station  nearest  the  stand,  whicli  had  been 
erected  the  whole  lengtli  of  tlie  sprint  traclt,  and  so  was  completely  shel- 
tered from  the  rather  strong  breeze  blowing  across  the  ground.  It  is 
open  to  question,  liowever.  whether  even  Sanford,  who  ran  next  the 
grass,  was  in  tlie  slightest  degree  prejudiced.  Tlie  start  was  not  a  bad 
one,  but  Fry  was  niucli  tlie  quickest  into  his  stride,  and  he  ran  so  straight 


276  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

and  hard  that  at  fifty  yards  he  led  by  a  yard.  Sanford  was  at  this  stage 
of  the  race  second,  though  Ins  advantage  over  Jordan,  who  had  made  a 
rather  sU:)w  start,  was  very  shght.  For  some  score  yards  it  was  a  des- 
perate race  between  Jordan  and  Sanford,  but  Fry  continued  to  hold  his 
place.  However,  witli  twenty  yards  to  go,  the  Oxford  president  seemed 
to  slacken.  The  contrary  was  the  case  with  Jordan,  who,  finishing  very 
resolutely,  was  beaten  by  a  foot  only;  half  a  yard  separated  Jordan  and 
Sanford.  Time,  10  sec.  The  Yale  men  started  with  their  hands  touch- 
ing the  ground. 

Throicing  the  Hammer. — W.  O.  Hickok,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  1;  A.  Brown, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  2;  G.  W.  Robertson,  New,  Oxford,  0.  After  over- 
stepping the  limits  of  the  circle  three  times,  Hickok  threw  110  ft.  5  in. 
Brown's  first  and  fourth  throws  were  104  ft.  each;  his  others  99  ft.  5  in. 
and  103  ft.  8^  in.  Robertson's  best  throw  was  101  ft.  10  in.,  his  first;  he 
also  threw  100  ft.  7  in.  The  Americans  threw  from  a  7-ft.  circle,  and 
used  a  hammer  measuring  4  ft.  Robertson  used  a  3  ft.  6  in.  hammer, 
and  threw  from  a  30-ft.  circle. 

Hurdle  Race,  120  Yards,  10  flights.— W.  J.  Oakley,  Christ  Church,  Ox- 
ford, 1 ;  D.  B.  Hatch,  Cincinnati,  O.,  2;  T.  G.  Scott,  Hertford,  Oxford,  3; 
E.  A.  Cady,  Hartford,  Conn.,  fell.  Both  Americans  adopted  the  "hand 
spring"  or  "all-fours"  method  of  starting,  and  both  were  quicker  in 
getting  away  than  either  of  the  Oxonians.  Cady  reached  the  first  hurdle 
half  a  yard  in  front  of  the  Dark  Blues,  and  Hatch  had  an  advantage  of 
a  foot.  However,  this  was  soon  lessened,  and  at  the  seventh  hurdle  Oak- 
ley, Hatch,  and  Scott  were  as  nearly  as  possible  level,  with  Cady  just 
leading.  Approaching  the  next  hurdle  Oakley  had  almost  overtaken 
Cady,  and  the  excitement  was  growing,  when  the  Connecticut  man,  fail- 
ing to  rise  sufficiently  at  the  eighth  hurdle,  came  a  cropper,  the  fall  car- 
rying him  almost  to  the  foot  of  the  ninth  obstacle.  This  settled  matters, 
Oakley  keeping  his  place,  and  finishing  three-quarters  of  a  yard  in  front 
of  Hatch,  who  beat  Scott  by  rather  less  than  a  foot.     Time,  16|  sec. 

One-Mile  Race. — W.  H.  Greenhow,  Exeter,  Oxford,  1,  J.  E.  Morgan, 
Essex,  Conn.,  2;  G.  M.  Hildyard,  University  College,  Oxford,  0.  The 
last-named  set  the  pace,  followed  by  Morgan  to  the  first  corner,  where 
Greeidiovv  became  second.  Along  the  stretch  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
ground  Morgan  drew  up  to  Greenhow's  shoulder,  but  at  the  finisli  of  the 
first  lap,  ran  in  1  min.  19  sec,  Greenhow  was  next  to  Hildyard,  and  this 
was  the  order  on  to  the  main  entrance,  where  Greenhow  took  command, 
and  Hildyard,  slowing  down  gradually,  gave  way  to  Morgan.  At  the 
clo.se  of  the  second  lap  (2  min.  51i  sec.)  Greenhow  was  forty  yards  aliead 
of  Morgan.  Hildj-ard  retired  on  reaching  the  pavilion  in  the  last  lap, 
and  Greenhow  went  on  increasing  his  lead  of  Morgan,  until  at  the  close 
it  amounted  to  ninety  yards.  Time,  4  min.  24|  sec.  The  quarter-mile 
times  were  56^  sec.  (Hildyard),  2  min.  51  sec.  (Greenhow),  and  3  min. 
15  sec.  (Greenhow).     ]Morg;in's  time  was  4  min.  41i  sec. 

Long  Jump.—h.  P.  Sheldon,  Rutland,  Vt.,  1;  W.  J.  Oakley,  Clirist 
Church,  Oxford,  2;  C.  B.  Fry,  AVadham,  Oxford,  3;  D.  B.  Hatch,  Cin- 
cinnati. O..  0.     Sheldon's  jumps  were  22  ft.  1|  in.,  22  ft.  1^  in.,  21  ft.  6| 


UNIVERSITY  ATHLETICS  277 

in.,  and  23  ft.  11  in.;  Oakley's  were  23  ft.  f  in.,  33  ft.,  31  ft.  6|  in.,  and 
33  ft.  U  in.  Fry  cleared  23  ft.  |  in.,  and  made  two  no  jumps.  Hatch 
went  over  the  mark  three  times,  and  his  only  jump  was  not  measured. 
Sheldon's  jump  was  also  measured  according  to  the  American  method — 
i.  e.,  to  the  first  break  of  the  ground;  it  was  found  to  be  33  ft.  9i  in., 
which  beats  the  previous  Yale  record  by  3|  in. 

Quarter-Mile  JRnce. — G.  Jordan,  University,  Oxford,  1;  G.  F.  Sanford, 
Woodford,  Conn.,  3;  A.  Pond,  Detroit,  Mich.,  3;  H.  R.  Sykes,  Christ 
Church,  Oxford,  4.  Sykes  was  the  first  to  show  in  front,  and  for  150 
yards  was  followed  by  Pond,  with  Sanford  third.  The  last-named  then 
went  next  to  the  leader,  and  half-way  took  up  the  running  with  Pond 
at  his  heels,  and  Jordan,  very  close  up,  third.  Turning  into  the  long 
straight  by  the  club  premises,  Sanford  had,  so  far  as  could  be  seen  from 
the  enclosure  in  front  of  the  pavilion,  a  substantial  lead,  and  the  Amer- 
ican's chance  was  not  lessened  by  Jordan  having  to  turn  wide  in  his 
endeavor  to  go  by  Pond.  This  accomplished,  Jordan  set  to  work  in  most 
resolute  fashion,  and  seventy  yards  from  home  he  was  running  level 
with  Sanford,  whom  he  headed  in  the  next  few  yards.  The  American 
struggled  gamely,  but  without  avail.  Inch  by  inch  Jordan  gained,  and 
eventually  he  breasted  the  tape  two  yards  from  Sanford,  who  beat 
Pond  by  three  yards.     Time,  51  sec. 

Putting  the  Weight  (16  lb.).—W.  O.  Hickok,  Harrisburg,  Pa..  1;  A. 
Brown,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  3  ;  A.  F.  Maling,  Exeter,  Oxford,  3;  D.  H. 
Meggy,  Christ  Church,  Oxford,  4.  Hickok's  puts  were  41  ft.  7i  in., 
41  ft.  4i  in.,  41  ft.  3  in.,  and  40  ft.  IQi  in. ,  Brown's  best  were  40  ft.'2  in! 
and  39  ft.  11^  in.  Maling  put  35  ft.  3^  in.  and  33  ft.  7^  in.  The  Amer- 
icans put  from  a  7-ft.  circle  and  the  Englishmen  from  a  10-ft.  square. 

High  Jump. — L.  P.  Sheldon,  Rutland,  Vt.,  and  E.  D.  Swanwick,  Uni- 
versity, Oxford,  tied  at  5  ft.  8|  in.,  after  a  protracted  competition.  E.  A. 
Cady,  Hertford,  Conn.,  cleared  5  ft.  7f  in.,  and  G.  A.  Gardiner,  New, 
Oxford,  5  ft.  6f  in. 

Unlf-Mile  Itace.—W.  H.  Greenhow,  Exeter,  Oxford,  1 ;  F.  W.  Rathbone, 
New,  Oxford,  3;  W.  S.  Woodhull,  Orange,  N.  J.,  3;  J.  E.  Morgan,  Essex, 
Conn.,  0.  The  last-named,  as  in  the  mile,  set  the  pace,  and  was  followed 
by  AVoodhull  for  about  a  third  of  the  distance,  when  places  changed 
quickly,  Woodhull  going  to  the  front,  to  be  directly  afterwards  passed 
by  Greenhow,  Rathbone  occupying  third  place  just  later.  Along  the 
stretch  on  the  far  side  of  the  ground  Rathbone  drew  on  Woodhull,  and 
the  pair  closed  up  with  Greenhow  as  the  home  straight  was  reached, 
making  matters  very  exciting.  About  seventy  yards  from  home  Wood- 
hull  got  in  front  again,  but  the  lead  was  scarcely  gained  ere  it  was  lost, 
and  as,  when  the  American  fell  back,  Rathbone  came  up,  the  cheers  for 
Oxford  were  loud  and  long.  There  was  a  grand  finish  between  the  Oxo- 
nians, who  were  in  the  end  separated  by  a  few  inches  only;  but  Wood- 
hull,  having  found  pursuit  hopeless,  eased  up  slightly,  and  was  four 
yards  off  when  the  worsted  gave  way  before  the  pressure  of  Greenhow. 
Time,  3  min.  f  sec.     The  first  quarter  occupied  59  sec. 


X 

CLUB  ATHLETICS 

We  have  seen  that  modern  organized  athletics  began 
with  the  Rugby  School  crick  run  in  1837,  that  the  Eoyal 
Military  Academy  gave  games  in  '49,  followed  by  Exeter 
College  at  Oxford  in  '50,  and  that,- after  '55,  the  sport 
was  taken  up  quite  generally  by  the  colleges  one  after 
the  other  at  both  universities.  We  know  that  Oxford  and 
Cambridge  held  their  first  inter-university  meeting  in  '64, 
and  that  the  same  year  gav^e  birth  to  the  Amateur  Ath- 
letic Club — England's  first  club  devoted  to  amateurs. 

We  know  that  this  club  opened  the  Lillie  Bridge 
grounds,  which  instantly  became  amateur  headquarters, 
and  remained  so  until  the  appearance  of  the  London  Ath- 
letic Club.  This  younger  and  more  vigorous  rival  speedi- 
ly outgrew  the  old  order  of  things,  and  secured  grounds 
of  its  own  at  Stamford  Bridge,  leaving  the  pioneer  insti- 
tution struggling  for  life  until  eventual  collapse  came  to 
its  relief.  With  the  coming  of  this  new  athletic  power, 
the  sport  entered  upon  a  veritable  heyday  of  prosperity 
that  in  honest,  healthful  rivalry  carried  it  past  the  seven- 
ties and  well  on  towards  '80,  the  date  of  the  present  As- 
sociation's establishment.  Thus  far  have  previous  chap- 
ters taken  us. 

During  these,  the  halcyon  days  of  English  athletics, 
men  competed  for  sport ;  "  amateur  "  was  applied  in  truth 
and  with  significance,  and  the  skirmishers  of  the  great 
unwashed  had  not   put  themselves  in  evidence  to  sneer 


CLUB  ATHLETICS  281 

at  the  laurel  wreath  and  demand  expenses,  compensation 
for  loss  of  time,  and  extravagant  prizes. 

How  many  an  English  sportsman — how  many  a  one  in 
America,  for  here,  too,  we  have  run  foul  of  the  pot-hunter 
—  fervently  wishes  he  had  answered  the  first  challenge 
by  fighting  it  out  on  the  every-man-to-his-o\vn-vine-and- 
fig-tree  lines,  if  it  had  taken  half  a  lifetime.  Now  there  is 
nothing  left  for  us  but  to  abandon  the  bower  planted  in 
pride  and  nourished  with  such  tender  solicitude,  and  raise 
up  another  where  experience  will  guard  us  against  the 
vermin  that  have  made  this  one  uninhabitable. 

Having  reminded  the  reader  that  the  very  early  epochs 
of  English  athletics  have  been  elaborated  for  his  edifi- 
cation in  the  preceding  university  chapters,  it  becomes  my 
uncongenial  task  to  bring  him  up  to  date  in  non-university 
athletics.  It  is  not  a  pleasing  journey,  for  the  way  is 
muddy  and  the  resting-stones  are  few  and  far  between. 

TheAmateur  Athletic  Association  owes  its  existence  to 
a  dispute  between  university  and  non-university  athletes 
over  the  time  of  year  the  championships  should  be  held, 
and,  thus  born  in  strife,  it  has  remained  ever  since  a 
child  of  contention. 

The  recognition  of  their  claims  and  the  organization  of 
an  institution  that  Avould  officially  and  conspicuously  label 
them  gentlemen  —  for  it  was  argued  that  to  be  an  ama- 
teur was  to  be  a  gentleman,  and  the  latter  distinction 
rather  than  the  former  was  the  dearer  ambition  —  gave 
great  zest  to  the  sport  of  the  people,  and  athletic  contests 
throughout  Great  Britain  multiplied  extraordinarily.  But 
as  the  spirit  expanded,  and  the  meetings  grew  and  became 
prosperous,  the  element  of  greed  replaced  what  there  had 
been  of  sport.  That  class  which  had  in  times  past  popu- 
larized such  brutish  spectacles  as  cock-fighting,  rat-killing, 
and  the  like,  recognizing  the  rare  chance  at  one  and  the 


282  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

same  time  of  becoming  "  gentlemen  "  and  winning  prizes 
that  could  be  turned  to  a  pretty  penny,  threw  itself  bodily 
into  the  more  lucrative  field  of  athletics,  and  book-making, 
"roping,"  and  every  manner  of  swindling  crushed  all  sem- 
blance of  honesty  out  of  the  sport  that  had  been  inau- 
gurated under  such  happy  auspices. 

With  the  ascendency  of  this  element  decency  withdrew 
from  active  participation.  Oxford  and  Cambridge  sent 
no  entries  to  games,  and  affairs  went  from  bad  to  worse, 
until  to-day,  of  the  two  hundred  and  fifty  clubs  composing 
the  Association,  not  more  than  a  score  may  be  called  hon- 
estly amateur,  of  which  number  the  three  government  mil- 
itary colleges  and  Oxford  and  Cambridge  constitute  five. 

The  Association  has  striven  hard  enough  to  steer  a 
straight  course,  but  its  earnest  laborers  are  so  few,  and 
the  task  so  huge,  that  their  efforts  have  been  about  as  ef- 
fective as  would  be  the  tiny  stream  of  a  Babcock  fire-ex- 
tinguisher on  a  roaring  bonfire. 

American  readers  will  the  better  appreciate  the  pre- 
dicament of  the  minority  in  the  English  Association  when 
I  tell  them  it  is  identical  Avith  that  of  the  few  honestly 
amateur  sport-caring  members  of  the  Metropolitan  branch 
of  our  own  Amateur  Athletic  Union.  The  Metropolitan 
Association  is  a  growth  of  the  last  few  years,  membered 
and  controlled  by  a  precisely  similar  element  to  that 
which  forms,  an  overwhelming  majority  in  English  ath- 
letics. We  know  perfectly  well  what  a  farce  is  amateur- 
ism in  a  large  percentage  of  tiie  Metropolitan  clubs,  cer- 
tainly in  all  of  the  boxing  clubs.  If,  now,  instead  of 
swaying  onl}'-  the  Metropolitan  Association,  this  element 
should  extend  its  control  to  the  very  Union  itself,  and 
dominate  national  athletics,  then  should  we  have  such  a 
condition  as  obtains  in  England. 

I  hope  no  one  will  understand  me  as  disparaging  ath- 


i,  M 


ifj 


CLUB  ATHLETICS  285 

leticism  among  the  lower  classes,  for  I  should  not  wish 
to  be  so  interpreted.  As  I  began,  so  I  desire  to  end  this 
pilgrimage  with  a  sincere  exjDression  of  unfeigned  admira- 
tion for  the  universal  sporting  spirit  in  Great  Britain,  and 
an  unshaken  belief  in  the  incalculable  benefit  it  has  been 
to  the  national  manhood. 

The  value  of  athletics  cannot  be  overestimated.  It 
m^akes  manly,  enduring,  and  ready  men.  It  cultivates  the 
best  vitality  in  the  human  form,  and  it  must,  in  proportion, 
develop  a  certain  precision  and  decision  in  cases  of  emer- 
gency. It  has  invariably  an  influence  towards  the  im- 
provement of  one's  self,  for  of  a  given  number  of  partici- 
pants a  certain  percentage  must  always  be  the  better  men 
for  it,  morally  as  well  as  physically ;  and  who  will  deny 
that  these  qualities  bespeak  a  purer  heredity  ? 

I  should  therefore  be  the  veriest  dolt  to  advise  against 
athletics  in  all  stations  of  every  race  of  people  on  earth. 
It  is  not  the  wide-spread  athletic  activity  I  would  inveigh 
against,  but  the  dissimulation  and  SAvindling  which  have 
been  drawn  into  it  by  the  effort  to  harmonize  what  may 
be  called  the  university  element  with  men  Avho,  by  in- 
stinct and  education,  are  unfitted  to  live  up  to  or  appre- 
ciate the  standard  of  those  nurtured  in  more  cultured  sur- 
roundings. Only  after  generations  of  refining  influence 
can  be  accomplished  what  these  athletic  associations, 
nothing  daunted,  set  out  to  do  off-hand.  Nor  do  I  wish 
what  I  say  on  the  only  practicable  definition  of  an  ama- 
teur to  be  set  down  to  snobbishness  ;  few  who  follow  my 
writings  will  so  misjudge  me,  I  fancy.  I  fully  appreciate 
how  very  difficult  and  many-sided  a  problem  it  is,  but 
surely  England's  nearly  thirty  years  of  experience  counts 
for  something,  and  it  may  be  safely  asserted  that  man- 
kind averages  about  the  same,  whether  under  the  reign 
of  a  Queen  or  a  President. 


286  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

I  am  dwelling  on  this  situation  probably  at  greater 
length  than  the  average  reader  will  consider  it  warrants, 
because  I  wish  to  hold  it  up  as  a  warning  to  America  and 
to  our  own  Amateur  Athletic  Union. 

England's  experience  in  letting  down  the  bars  to  the  class 
of  men  that  formerly  did,  and  naturall}'  always  would,  fill 
the  professional  ranks  teaches  a  lesson  we  cannot  ignore 
if  we  would  steer  between  the  rocks  that  have  wrecked 
amateur  athletics  in  Great  Britain.  Theorists  will  argue 
that  bringing  this  class  of  men  in  contact  with  that  of 
higher  conceptions  and  purer  sentiments  should  have 
a  refining  and  elevating  influence  on  the  former  ;  perhaps 
it  should,  but  the  plain  fact  is  that  it  has  not. 

Such  an  education  must  have  its  beginning  in  the  home, 
or  under  the  wise  system  that  obtains  in  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  and  extends  through  all  its 
branches  in  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain.  Prop- 
erly applied,  athletics  do  have  an  unquestioned  refining 
influence,  but  the  desired  result  is  not  brought  about  by 
bringing  together  on  the  track  two  elements  that  are  not 
in  sympathy,  and  where  the  wish  to  win  is  likely  to  be 
the  dominating  motive.  The  educational  process  must  be 
slow  and  most  carefully  undertaken  in  a  class  that,  as  a 
rule,  is  wanting  in  the  true  amateur  instinct  of  sport  for 
sport's  sake;  and  it  is  comment  enough  on  the  folly  of 
the  experiment  in  England  to  say  that  at  the  last  meet- 
ing of  the  Amateur  Athletic  Association  an  appropriation 
was  made  to  bear  the  legal  expenses  being  constantly  in- 
curred by  the  prosecution  of  these  candidates  for  ethical 
reform.  The  A.  A.  A.  is  squandering  its  money  in  an  at- 
tempt to  retain  the  fealty  of  men  who  yielded  allegiance 
in  the  first  place  only  because  they  saw  an  opportunity  of 
making  amateur  athletics  more  lucrative  than  open  pro- 
fessionalism, and  who  recojrnize  the  laws  merely  as  so 


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BRADFORD    A.  C.   CLUB-HOUSE    AND    GROUNI 


many  obstacles  to  be  evaded.  Thus,  while  this  masquer- 
ading creature  flourishes,  the  hona  fide  amateur  languishes, 
and,  meanwhile,  athletics  remain  in  a  scandalous  condi- 
tion—a situation,  too,  that  occasions  a  loss  hard  to  es- 
timate ;  for  of  the  hundreds  of  men  graduated  annually 
from  the  universities  and  the  public  schools,  who  would 
naturally  infuse  athletics  with  a  Avholesome  spirit,  but 
very  few,  almost  none,  maintain  an  active  interest,  and 
in  all  of  England,  Avith  its  ever-apparent  sporting  spirit, 
only  one  athletic  club  (the  London  A.  C.)  attracts  entries 
to  its  games  from  Oxford  and  Cambridge ! 

Such  a  state  of  afi'airs  in  any  other  country  than  Eng- 
land would,  I  have  little  doubt,  eventually  lead  to  a  de- 
cadence of  amateur  sport  generally,  but  the  sporting  spirit 
and  the  love  of  out-doors  are  too  thoroughly  imbued  in 
the  Englishman  to  suffer  that  dire  extreme ;  he  is  safe 
from  intrusion  at  his  school  and  college,  and  when  he  has 
gone  down  from  his  university  there  is  hunting,  boating, 
cricket,  or  golf,  all  of  Avhich  have  thus  far  escaped  the 
taint  of  the  athletic,  cycling,  and  football  "  amachoor." 

What  will  be  the  outcome  of  this  maddening  problem 
few  Englishmen  care  to  hint,  but  my  own  observations 
lead  me  to  believe  the  day  not  far  distant  wdien  the 
mask  (which  deceives  none  but  the  officers  of  the  Amateur 
Athletic  Association)  will  be  torn  from  this  class  of  "  ama- 


288  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

choors,"  and  the\^  will  be  branded  professionals,  which,  in 
plain  fact,  they  have  always  been.  To  attempt  to  cleanse 
so-called  amateur  athletics  in  England  by  any  other 
method  would  be  simply  an  utter  impossibility.  The  de- 
cay that  was  has  advanced  to  putrefaction  ;  it  is  no  longer 
a  case  for  the  physician,  but  for  the  surgeon,  and  nothing 
short  of  complete  amputation  will  save  the  parent  body. 
Indeed,  it  is  my  opinion  that  the  latter  is  already  im- 
pregnated beyond  recovery,  and  that  only  by  separation 
immediate  and  complete  may  the  remaining  healthful 
ones  be  saved  from  the  approaching  wreck.  Let  these  sur- 
vivors abandon  the  present  Association  to  the  class  which 
is  now  in  the  majority,  and  form  another  w^here  sports- 
men only  may  gain  entrance,  and  in  which  an  amateur 
shall  be  defined  as  in  rowing. 

Eather  a  drastic  remedy,  to  be  sure,  but  the  condition 
is  extreme,  and  entirely  impervious  to  milder  measures. 

The  Amateur  Athletic  Association  is  divided  into  the 
Northern,  Midland,  and  Southern  counties  of  England, 
which  are  given  votes  and  send  representation  to  the  gen- 
eral meeting  in  proportion  to  their  numerical  strength. 
In  the  matter  of  geographical  divisions  these  are  to  the 
A,  A.  A.  as  the  Atlantic,  Central,  Metropolitan,  and  Pacific 
associations  are  to  our  Amateur  Athletic  Union,  but  differ 
in  the  method  and  number  of  votes.  Thus,  the  Northern 
counties,  comprising  101  clubs,  are  entitled  to  30  votes  ; 
the  Midland,  43  clubs,  and  15  votes ;  and  in  the  Southern 
district,  Cambridge,  Oxford,  and  the  London  Athletic  Club 
are  allowed  6  votes  each ;  the  Blackheath  Harriers,  Civil 
Service,  and  a  few  others,  3;  while  a  large  number  in 
London  have  1  vote,  and  some  none  at  all. 

Matters  of  purely  local  significance  are  administered  by 
the  sectional  legislators,  but  the  A.  A.  A,  general  commit- 
tee is  always  composed  of  one  representative  each  from 


CLUB  ATHLETICS 


289 


Oxford,  Cambridge,  London  Athletic  Club,  Civil  Ser- 
vice, Amateur  Athletic  Association,  Blackheath  Harriers, 
Finchley  Harriers,  German  Gymnastic  Society,  Highgate 
Harriers,  National  Cross-Country  Union,  Polytechnic  Har- 
riers, Eanelagii  Harriers,  South  London  Harriers,  Spartan 
Harriers,  United  Hospitals  Athletic  Club,  Midland  Coun- 
ties Amateur  Athletic  Association,  Northern  Counties 
Amateur  Athletic  Association,  and  one  from  a  West  of 
England  Club.  These,  with  "  thirty  members  equally  ap- 
portioned between  the  North,  South,  and  Midland,  to  be 
elected  by  the  association  or  governing  bodies  of  the  rep- 
resentative divisions,"  govern  the  athletics  of  England, 
and  in  the  voting  each  delegate  casts  the  number  to  which 
his  club  or  association  is  entitled,  as,  for  instance,  Oxford's 
opinion  would  go  for  six  votes,  the  Civil  Service  for  three, 
while  the  Midland  Counties'  representative  would  place 
fifteen  to  the  credit  of  whichever  side  of  the  question  he 
upheld.  One  each  from  the  sections,  the  two  universities, 
and  the  London  Athletic  Club  usually  complete  the  num- 
ber of  vice-presidents.  The  A.  A.  A.  amateur  definition 
reads  : 

"  An  amateur  is  one  who  has  never  competed  for  a  money  prize  or 
staked  bet,  or  with  or  against  a  professional  for  any  prize,  or  who  has 


BRADFORD    CRICKET    CREASE    AND    HOUSE 


290  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

never  taught,  pursued,  or  assisted  in  the  practice  of  athletic  exercises  as 
a  means  of  obtaining  a  livelihood. 

"The  following  exceptions  shall  be  made  to  this  rule — 

"(a.)  That  amateur  athletes  shall  not  lose  their  amateur  status  by 
competing  with  or  against  professional  football-players  in  ordinary  club 
matches  for  which  no  prizes  arc  given,  or  in  cup  competitions  permitted 
by  the  National  Football  Associations  or  Rugby  Unions  of  England, 
Ireland,  Scotland,  or  Wales,  providing  that  such  competitions  or  matches 
form  no  part  of,  nor  have  connectioa  with,  any  athletic  meeting. 

"  (b.)  That  competitions  at  arms  between  volunteers  and  regulars 
shall  not  be  considered  as  coming  within  the  scope  of  the  A.  A.  A.  laws. 

"(c.)  That  competitors  in  ofBcers'  races  at  naval  and  military  athletic 
meetings  (such  races  being  for  officers  only,  and  for  which  money  prizes 
are  not  given)  shall  be  exempt  from  any  of  the  laws  of  the  A.  A.  A.  dis- 
qualifying runners  for  competing  at  mixed  meetings. 

"  (cJ.)  That  tlie  'Championship  of  the  Army'  race  at  the  Aldershot 
sports  be  exempt  from  the  effect  of  this  rule. 

"  (e.)  That  a  paid  handicapper  is  not  a  professional." 

Each  section  elects  a  handicapper,  who  may  not  go  out 
of  his  province  or  his  class,  permits  being  granted  as  fol- 
lows: 

Class  1.  Open  handicaps,  any  distance  up  to  880  yards. 
Glass  2.  Open  handicaps,  880  j^ards  and  upwards. 
Cktss  3.  Walking  races. 

Penalties  for  attempts  to  beat  the  pistol  are,  '•  one 
yard  for  distances  up  to  and  including  220  yards,  two 
yards  up  to  and  including  440  yards,  three  yards  up  to 
and  including  880  yards,  and  five  yards  up  to  one  mile ; 
the  sum  of  these  penalties  to  be  doubled  for  second  of- 
fences, and  disqualification  on  the  third." 

There  are  similar  athletic  organizations  in  Scotland 
and  Ireland,  which  work  in  harmony  with  the  English 
Association,  the  sentences  of  disqualification  and  suspen- 
sion of  each  one  being  binding  on  the  other.  This  latter 
is  true  also  of  the  Amateur  Swimming  Association,  the 
National  Cyclists'  Union,  and  the  Amateur  Gymnastic 
Association. 

Challenge  cups  are  offered  at  championship  compe- 
titions, together  with  gold  medals  for  firsts  and  silver 


CLUB  ATHLETICS  293 

medals  for  seconds,  besides  which  a  gold  medal  is  given 
for  a  record  performance,  and  a  bronze  medal  to  those 
reaching  a  standard  fixed  by  the  committee.  Prizes  in 
handicaps  may  not  be  of  greater  value  than  £10  10*. 
($52.50),  but  in  a  scratch  race  there  is  no  limit. 

Competitors  are  allowed  three  trials  in  the  broad  jump 
and  three  at  each  height  in  the  high,  at  which,  as  with 
us,  no  diving  or  somersaulting  is  permitted.  I  have  al- 
ready commented  to  some  length  in  the  university  chap- 
ter on  the  method  of  measuring  the  broad  jump,  which 
is  totally  at  fault,  and  the  length  of  pegs  allowed  in  the 
uprights  for  the  high  jump,  likewise  open  to  criticism. 
All  tracks  are  measured  twelve  inches  from  the  inner 
side  of  the  path,  instead  of  eighteen  as  with  us,  and  the 
men  run  with  their  right  arm  to  the  pole,  instead  of 
the  left  as  in  America. 

The  16-pound  hammer,  total  length,  including  the  han- 
dle, not  exceeding  four  feet,  is  thrown  from  a  9-foot  cir- 
cle. The  16-pound  shot  is  put  from  a  7- foot  square,  each 
competitor  having  three  trials,  and  the  best  three  of  the 
first  rounds  having  three  more  each  for  the  final,  as  in 
the  hammer.  In  both  events  crossing  the  scratch  counts 
as  a  try.  The  56-pound  weight  is  not  an  event  on  the 
English  programme ;  neither  is  the  220-yard  hurdle. 

In  its  constitution  the  Association  proclaims  "  all  open 
betting  must  be  suppressed  at  athletic  meetings,"  not- 
withstanding which,  however,  it  flourishes  to  an  extraor- 
dinary degree,  despite  the  vigilance  of  officials  at  games, 
and  the  thorough  placarding  of  grand -stands,  warning 
book  -  makers  that  they  will  be  "  ejected "  from  the 
grounds.  It  seemed  to  me  at  some  of  the  meetings  I 
attended  as  if  every  other  man  was  a  book-maker,  for 
whenever  I  stopped  in  my  sauntering  about  the  grounds 
the  refrain  of  "Five  to  three  on  the  field  bar  one,"  "  Two 


294  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

to  one  on  Smith,"  "  Evens  on  Jones,"  etc.,  were  sung  in 
my  ear  to  the  accompaniment  of  jingling  shillings. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  book-makers  are  scattered  through- 
out the  spectators,  and  carry  on  their  business  in  defiance 
of  the  placards  and  the  officials,  who  do  make  honest 
attempts  to  stop  the  betting,  and  are  thoroughly  in  ear- 
nest, for  I  saw  several  detected  offenders  put  outside  the 
gates  in  a  hurry  and  sans  ceremonie. 

Athletic  meetings  promoted  by  companies  or  as  private 
enterprises  are  not  recognized  by  the  Association,  so  they 
advertise ;  but  it  is  a  fact,  none  the  less,  that  the  most 
flourishing  athletic  institutions  in  England,  and  those 
which  give  the  largest  meetings,  are  "  limited  liabilit}'- " 
companies  devoted  to  athletics,  cricket,  and  other  sports 
(separate  committees  managing  the  different  branches), 
and  organized  for  business  quite  as  much  as  if  the  venture 
were  dry-goods  instead  of  athletics.  Such,  for  instance, 
are  the  Huddersfield  Cricket,  Football,  and  Athletic  Club, 
the  Bradford  Cricket,  Athletic,  and  Football  Club,  and 
the  Leeds  Cricket,  Football,  and  Athletic  Club — three  of 
the  largest,  I  believe,  in  Great  Britain. 

The  Amateur  Athletic  Association  championship  is 
given  during  the  summer  in  each  of  its  sectional  districts 
alternately.  When  held  in  the  Southern  counties  the 
London  Athletic  Club  grounds  at  Stamford  Bridge  are 
invariably  chosen ;  in  the  North :  Crewe,  Manchester, 
Southport,  and  Huddersfield ;  in  the  Midlands :  Birming- 
ham or  Northampton.  In  addition,  the  local  organiza- 
tions in  the  North  and  Midland  farm  out  several  cham- 
pionship events  to  different  clubs,  as,  for  instance,  a 
hurdle-race  to  one,  a  quarter-mile  to  another,  etc.,  which 
add  much  to  the  sectional  prestige  of  the  favored  club. 

Although  there  are  a  great  many  meetings  throughout 
Great  Britian  during  the  season,  the  best,  aside  from  the 


POLE    VAULTING    ON    A    MATTRESS    AT    BRA 


A.  A.  A.  championships,  held  in  July,  are  the  spring  and 
autumn  games  of  the  London  Athletic  Club — the  L.  A.  C.- 
Oxford in  the  spring,  and  the  L.  A.  C.-Cambridge  in  the 
autumn — and  those  of  the  Civil  Service  and  the  United 
Hospitals  clubs.  These,  which  are  the  choice — and  there 
are  few  others  that  are  good  (for  most  athletic  clubs  in 
England  consist  of  a  name  only,  under  which  a  few  men 
compete) — are  beginning  to  hold  strictly  invitation  meet- 
ings. In  fact,  the  unclean-  condition  of  athletics,  and  the 
hopelessness  of  anything  being  done  by  the  Association 
towards  purifying  the  situation,  have  created  a  feeling  of 
abhorrence  among  the  few  respectable  clubs,  and  a  deter- 
mination, by  restricting  their  games  to  invitation  entries, 
to  take  the  law  into  their  own  hands. 

The  ITational  Cross  -  Country  Association  is  a  distinct 
body  from  the  Amateur  Athletic  Association,  likewise  di- 
vided into  Northern,  Midland,  and  Southern  counties,  in 


296  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

each  of  which  a  junior  and  a  senior  championship  is  held, 
but,  unlike  the  A.  A.  A.,  there  is,  strange  enough,  no  gen- 
eral meeting  to  decide  the  English  championship.  It  is 
different  in  Ireland  and  Scotland,  where,  as  in  athletics, 
there  is  a  general  championship  for  the  entire  country. 

Cross-country  running,  as  everybody  knows,  is  extreme- 
ly popular  in  England,  there  being  no  end  to  the  number 
of  clubs  devoted  to  one  form  or  another  of  this  sport,  in- 
cluding paper  and  rabbit  chasing.  At  the  Southern 
championships  I  attended,  at  least  130  men  finished  out  of 
150  starters,  notwithstanding  it  was  as  heavy  going  as  I 
ever  saw ;  and  although  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents, 
about  2000  spectators  remained  to  the  end. 

It  is  too  bad  to  dispel  the  illusion,  however,  by  adding 
that  the  amateur  status  in  cross-country  running  is  just 
about  the  same  as  it  is  in  athletics  under  the  A.  A.  A., 
and  that  betting,  "-roping,"  and  all  other  little  devices 
peculiar  to  the  English  athletic  club  "amachoor"  are 
quite  as  prevalent  at  their  meetings. 

Allied  to  the  A.  A.  A.  is  the  Amateur  Swimming  Asso- 
ciation, which  has  united  with  the  National  Life-Saving 
Society  in  making  natation  recognized  in  schools  as  a 
necessary  part  of  a  boy's  education ;  and  a  great  and  good 
work  have  they  succeeded  in  accomplishing  throughout 
the  British  Kingdom.  Nor  are  the  benefits  restricted  to 
mankind,  for  the  women  have  not  been  neglected  in  the 
general  movement.  Swimming  matches  are  held  wher- 
ever there  is  water,  and  the  average  Englishman  seems  to 
be  as  much  at  home  in  that  element  as  on  land.  The 
Swimming  Association  does  not  recognize  professional- 
ism, but  the  members  of  the  water-polo  teams,  which  are 
legion,  are  just  about  of  the  type  that  distinguishes  gen- 
eral athletics. 

These  polo  clubs  hold  a  series  of  matches  in  the  North- 


■k' 

9 

1:; 

1> 

CLUB  ATHLETICS  299 

ern,  Midland,  and  Southern  counties  of  England,  which 
culminate  in  an  English  championship  tournament,  fol- 
lowed by  international  games  with  the  teams  of  Scotland 
and  Ireland.  It  is  a  rather  unsavory  lot  one  sees  in  this 
sport,  from  an  amateur  point  of  view,  but  it  is  a  fine 
work  that  is  being  done  for  the  English  nation. 

Altogether  the  athletic  outlook  of  Great  Britain,  from 
a  popular  point  of  view,  is  brilliant ;  but  from  an  amateur 
point  of  view  it  is  discouraging,  and  the  question  just  at 
present  on  the  other  side  is  whether  the  dog  will  wag  the 
tail  or  the  tail  wag  the  dog;  whether,  indeed,  the  vex- 
ing problem  could  not  be  solved  by  permitting  the  dis- 
cordant element  to  go  its  way  rejoicing,  while  the  few 
representative  sportsmen's  clubs  withdraw  from  the  Ama- 
teur Athletic  Association  to  reorganize  in  the  interest  of 
honest  amateur  athletics. 


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W.  D.  Day. 
E.  C.  Carter. 
W.  D.  Day. 

Stephen  Chase. 

J.  P.  Lee. 
F.  P.  Murray. 

E.  E.  Merrill. 

M.F.Sweeney. 
A.  P.  Schwaner. 

C.  S.  Relier. 

A.  P.  Schwaner. 

E.  B.  Bloss. 

W.  S.  RodenhauEh. 

George  R.  Gray 

J.S.Mitchell. 

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XI 

CLUBS 

Very  few  clubs  in  England  own  grounds,  still  fewer 
have  houses ;  pavilions  for  spectators  and  dressing-rooms 
for  contestants  being  the  extent  to  which  building  is  car- 
ried. Such  athletic  club-houses  as  we  have  in  the  United 
States,  with  their  completely  equipped  gymnasia,  Turkish 
baths,  swimming  -  pools,  billiard,  dining,  and  smoking 
rooms,  that  cost  from  $100,000  up  to  $800,000,  exist  only 
in  dreamland  on  the  other  side.  There  is  not  one  in  all 
England  (so  far  as  I  could  hear)  that  has  even  a  restau- 
rant or  sleeping  accommodations.  The  London  A.  C,  the 
oldest  and  by  all  odds  the  first  athletic  club  in  Great 
Britain,  has  no  club-house  either  in  town  or  at  its  excel- 
lent grounds  at  Stamford  Bridge. 

There  are,  however,  several  clubs  in  England  devoted 
to  sport  that  have  extensive  grounds  and  club-houses, 
though  even  these  fail  of  having  the  elaborate  and  mod- 
ern living  and  dining  facilities  of  our  athletic  clubs,  while 
they  are  not  to  be  compared  at  all  with  our  country 
clubs,  to  which  the  class  of  membership  may  be  likened. 

Of  these  there  are,  in  London :  Lord's,  headquarters  of 
the  Marylebone  Club,  the  cricket  authority  of  the  world  ; 
it  has  racquet,  tennis,  and  lawn -tennis  courts,  and  a 
cricket  crease,  which  has  been  and  continues  to  be  the 
scene  of  all  the  great  matches  in  England.  Hurlingham, 
which  occupies  the  position  in  polo  that  Marylebone  does 
in  cricket,  has  a  club-house  and  a  field  like  a   billiard- 


.Ml,Ul-i:    nv    PRINCES    CLUB 

Showing  the  position  of  racquet-courts 


table.  Queen's  Club  ground  is  the  one  on  Tvliicli  are 
played  the  football  and  athletic  games  of  Oxford  and 
Cambridge,  and  in  the  courts  of  which  the  university, 
public-school,  and  army  racquet  championships  are  decid- 
ed ;  it  has  an  open  skating-rink,  tennis  and  covered  lawn- 
tennis  courts.  Ranelagh  has  a  picturesque  old  house,  the 
most  beautiful  grounds  of  them  all,  and  an  equipment  for 
golf,  polo,  and  pony-racing ;  and  Kennington  Oval,  with 
its  cricket  crease  and  cycling  track,  has  been  the  scene  of 
many  a  memorable  contest. 

Prince's  Club  is  the  swell  racquet  and  tennis  club  of 
England,  with  courts  in  London  and  at  Brighton,  and 
corresponds  in  class  of  membership  and  in  social  position 
to  our  Racquet  and  Tennis  Club  of  New  York,  but  it  has 
no  such  home.     In  fact,  it  is  used  for  play  onlj'-,  and  is 


CLUBS 


303 


closed  every  evening  at  eight  o'clock.  Its  courts,  two  for 
racquets  and  two  for  tennis,  are  very  fine,  with  lime- 
stone instead  of  cement  floors.  The  gallery  for  spec- 
tators is  so  very  happily  arranged  that  a  view  of  both 
racquet  and  one  tennis  court  may  be  had  without  leaving 
the  one  floor  or  the  electric  button  which  summons  the 
native  beverage.  There  are  no  dining  facilities,  and  one 
may  get  merely  a  bite  of  luncheon ;  but  the  bathing  de- 
partment is  thoroughly  and  elaborately  equipped,  and  the 


304 


A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 


plunge  one  of  the  handsomest,  though  not  the  largest,  in 
any  club  on  either  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

The  one  club  in  London  with  sport  as  a  raison  cVetre 
which  pretends  to  have  club  features  is  the  recently  organ- 
ized Sports'  Club.  When  the  defunct  Pelican  Club  dis- 
solved, the  boxing  contingent  went  over  to  the  National 
Sporting  Club,  and  the  better  element,  headed  by  Sir  John 
Astley,  formed  the  Sports'  Club,  one  of  the  rules  of 
which,  to  show  their  sentiment  on  the  subject,  being  that 
there  shall  be  no  sparring  matches  given  under  the  club's 
auspices.  Membership  is  less  exclusive  than  that  of  Lord's, 
Queen's,  Isthmian,  or  Prince's,  nor  does  it  fill  such  a 
place  in  college  sports  as  our  University  Athletic  Club  of 
New  York,  but  it  does  entertain  university  football  teams, 
and  aims  to  do  what  it  can  to  perpetuate  a  thoroughly 
good  sporting  feeling— rather  an  easy  lot  in  England. 

How  well  off  we  are  in  the  matter  of  clubs,  the  follow- 
ing partial  list  Avill  show  : 


Clubs. 

Mem- 
bers. 

Towns. 

Value  of 
Property. 

2500 
800 
1000 
1800 
2000 
1500 
1500 
600 
700 
.■)00 
700 
1000 
1000 
1200 
1200 
1600 
1200 
SOO 

New  York 

$650,000 
400,000 

soooo 

Bayonne,  New  Jersey 

800,000 
250,000 

SanFninclsco 

Philadelphia 

A      n     «f.hiivlL-ill  TJlvv 

150,000 
T.'i.OOn 

Detroit,  Michigan 

Louisville,  Kentucky !      60,000 

Oranue,  New  Jersey ,       75,000 

Wai-hington.  D.  C j     100,000 

Brooklyn,  New  York 125,000 

New  Orleans,  Louisiaua 50,000 

80,000 

Denver,  Colorado 200,000 

Southern      "         "    

Youii}?  Men  Gymnasium  Club 

Cleveland    "         "    

Michigan  Athletic  Association 

Buffalo  Athletic  Club 

Cleveland,  Ohio 

1       50,000 

1       50,000 

Buffalo,  New  York 

75,000 

The  Isthmian  Club  has  a  very  handsome  house,  and  for- 
merly preserved  the  relationship  to  college  athletics  that 
the  Sports'  Club  is  now  endeavoring  to  establish.  Like  our 
University  Club,  none  but  college  men  are  eligible  (really 


CLUBS  307 

university,  public  -  school,  army  or  navy  men,  though  a 
very  few  who  possess  none  of  these  qualifications  are  an- 
nually elected),  which  is  not  a  sine  qua  non  of  member- 
ship in  the  Sports'  Club.  Though  gradually  losing  active 
interest  in  college  sport,  university  men  invariably  join 
the  Isthmian,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  to  gain  admit- 
tance to  its  enclosure  at  Henley,  Avhere  an  elaborate  col- 
lation and  an  orchestra  are  provided,  and  which  is  alto- 
gether the  swagger  place  from  which  to  view  the  regatta. 

Aside  from  racquets  and  tennis,  there  is  practically  no 
in-door  exercise  among  English  sportsmen,  fencing  or  box- 
ing at  either  Oxford  or  Cambridge  not  having  enough 
popularity  to  give  it  a  name ;  one  is  supposed  to  leave 
boxing  at  Eton  and  Harrow  when  one  goes  up  to  the 
universities.  There  is  no  boxing  or  fencing  at  Prince's  or 
any  other  of  that  sort  of  club,  though  a  fencing  club 
does  exist  (in  rented  quarters)  in  London,  with  a  maitre. 
Wcwmes  and  a  membership  of  gentlemen,  but  it  leads  an 
indifferent  sort  of  life.  Fencing  in  England  is  not  in  a 
flourishing  condition. 

There  is  really  very  little  in-door  sport  in  England,  and, 
consequently,  no  occasion  for  the  elaborate  club-houses 
erected  in  the  United  States.  The  English  climate  per- 
mits of  out-door  play  at  one  game  or  another  the  year 
round.  The  hospitable  and  innumerable  handsome  coun- 
try-homes of  English  sportstaen  give  country  clubs  as  Ave 
know  them  no  excuse  for  existence.  Golf  has  its  club- 
house, usually  a  modest  home  with  plenty  of  cheer  within, 
a  few  bicycle  and  three  or  four  athletic  clubs  have  unpre- 
tentious homes,  but,  as  a  rule,  the  club-house  is  the  last 
consideration  in  Great  Britain,  except,  of  course,  where  it 
is  essential  to  the  game. 

Of  boxing  there  is  no  lack  among  the  lower  element ; 
and  one  may  see  half  a  dozen  "  slugging  matches,"  if  one 


308 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


cares  for  that  sort  of  thing,  ahnost  every  night  of  the 
season  in  London,  the  contestants  being  the  same  "  great 
unwashed "  breed  with  which  we  are  familiar  in  Xew 
York.  The  Amateur  Boxing  Association  exists,  though 
apparently  more  as  a  professional  nursery  than  as  ama- 
teur guardian ;  and  it  is  pretty  safe  to  say  there  is  little, 
if  any,  honest  amateur  competitive  boxing  in  London. 

There  is  no  excuse  for  the  young  men  of  London,  grow- 
ing up  with  undeveloped  muscles,  for  in  no  country 
is  the  physical  condition  of  the  laboring  element  given 
more  attention.  There  are  the  Amateur  Gymnastic  As- 
sociation, the  National  Physical  Kecreation  Society,  the 
Polytechnic,  and  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association, 
all  doing  a  splendid  work  in  this  direction,  to  say  nothing 


CLUBS  309 


of  the  public  tennis-courts  and  innumerable  opportunities 
for  out-door  games  of  every  description. 

It  is  not  hard  to  see  why  there  is  so  far-reaching  a  sport- 
ing spirit  in  Great  Britain. 


XII 
CYCLING 

So  far  as  the  racing  side  of  cycling  is  concerned,  this 
article  might  be  dismissed  very  briefly  by  dittoing  the 
foregoing  chapter  on  athletics. 

The  National  Cyclists'  Union  of  Great  Britain,  like 
unto  our  own  League  of  American  AVheelmen,  lacks  dis- 
cernment, courage,  and,  to  all  appearances,  sympathy 
with  the  better  side  of  the  sport,  making  a  veritable 
mockery  of  their  mission  to  keep  it  honest  and  healthful. 
Were  the  results  not  so  serious,  the  legislative  meetings 
of  these  two  bodies  Avould  furnish  the  plot  for  a  scream- 
ing farce — the  perfunctory  assemblies,  the  grave  discus- 
sions over  amateur  definitions — as  though  there  were 
more  than  one  definition  of  an  amateur — the  solemn  con- 
sideration of  pleas  for  reinstatement  to  the  fold,  the  self- 
congratulations  on  none  of  the  inner  circle  having  bro- 
ken the  thirteenth  commandment,  and,  finally,  after  the 
greatest  apparent  labor,  the  tiny  little  mouse  put  forth 
by  the  mountain,  and  caught  up  again,  once  the  lights 
are  out,  for  future  exploitation. 

It's  huge  sport ;  like  the  story  of  the  little  boys  throw- 
ing stones  into  the  frog-pond,  it  is  great  fun  for  the  boys 
if  death  to  the  frogs. 

One  must  go  to  England  and  see  with  his  own  e^^es 
the  rottenness  of  cycle-racing  to  appreciate  just  how  mer- 
ry a  joke  this  Union  perpetrated  Avhen  it  withheld  A.  A. 
Zimmerman's  license  last  year.     Not  that  Zimmerman's 


CYCLING  311 

amateur  status  was  above  question,  or  that  the  National 
Cyclists'  Union  loved  him  less,  but  its  whitewashed  ama- 
teurs more ;  it  was  the  most  delicious  instance  I  have 
ever  known  of  the  pot  calling  the  kettle  black. 

The  Union  began  the  year  of  '93  by  passing  a  rule  that 
all  riders  should  be  licensed,  ostensibly  for  the  sole  pur- 
pose of  protecting  amateur  bicycling  from  the  invasions 
of  the  makers'  amateurs,  the  men  who  are  hired  to  ride 
by  the  manufacturer,  and  well  paid  for  it.  This  was  the 
beautiful  bubble  the  Union  floated  before  the  dear  pub- 
lic, but  it  was  only  another  frolicsome  gambol  of  the  lit- 
tle trained  mouse  which  popped  into  its  cage  once  the 
exhibition  was  over.  ISTot  a  single  maker's  amateur  of 
any  especial  speed  failed  to  secure  his  license,  and  one 
might  almost  believe  it  to  have  been  a  tidy  little  business 
scheme  on  the  part  of  the  Union  to  levy  an  assessment  of 
2s.  6d.  per  capita. 

This  license  scheme  has  not  purified  English  racing 
cycling ;  nobody  who  gave  the  subject  careful  consider- 
ation thought  it  would,  any  more  than  they  believe  the 
inconsistencies  of  Class  A  and  B  will  cleanse  the  track  in 
America.  Nothing  short  of  a  rigid  adherence  to  the 
amateur  definition  that  obtains  in  other  branches  of  sport, 
and  the  election  of  officials  who  really  know  an  amateur 
when  they  see  one,  and  have  the  courage  of  their  convic- 
tions, will  ever  purify  racing  bicycling.  There  is  no  occa- 
sion to  instance  special  cases  of  professionalism  ;  they  are 
patent  to  everybody  —  even  to  the  most  indifl'erent  on- 
looker; and  sportsmen  in  England  as  in  the  United  States 
are  thoroughly  disgusted  with  the  existing  condition  of 
affairs. 

The  history  of  the  National  Cyclists'  Union  does  not 
make  very  agreeable  reading.  It  seems  almost  as  though 
they  had  set  to  work  to  swell  the  numbers  of  their  asso- 


312  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

ciation,  regardless  of  the  means  to  the  end,  or  tlie  status 
of  the  amateur.  Founded  in  1878,  they  immediately  be- 
gan to  legislate  for  riders  Avho  previously  had  quite  capa- 
bly managed  their  own  affairs,  and  had  not  the  slightest 
desire  to  be  ruled.  That  they  were  in  touch  neither  with 
hona  fide  amateurs  nor  with  honest  professionals  is  evi- 
denced by  the  fact  that  out-and-out  professional  racing  is 
dead,  whereas  it  flourished,  and  that  amateurs  dropped 
out  of  the  sport  once  the  National  Cyclists'  Union  had 
firml}'-  established  itself. 

The  latest  departure  of  this  body  is  the  adoption  of  a 
series  of  rules  somewhat  similar  to  the  Class  A  and  Class 
B  distinctions  of  our  League  of  American  Wheelmen, 
which  follow  : 


In  the  League  of  American  Wheelmen,  Class  A  is  one  "who  shall  not 
have  engaged  in  nor  assisted  in  nor  taught  cycling  or  any  other  recog- 
nized athletic  exercise  for  mouej'  or  other  remuneration,  nor  knowingly 
competed  with  or  against  a  professional  for  a  prize  of  any  description, 
or  who,  after  having  forfeited  the  amateur  status,  has  had  the  same  re- 
stored by  unanimous  vote  of  the  National  Assembly,  L.  A.  W." 

"  He  forfeits  his  standing  when  he  engages  in  cycling  or  other  recog- 
nized athletic  exercises,  or  personally  teaches,  trains,  or  coaches  any  per- 
son therein,  either  as  a  means  of  obtaining  a  liveliliood,  or  for  a  wager, 
money  prize,  or  gate  money ;  or  if  he  competes  with  a  professional  or  an 
amateur  of  Class  B,  or  makes  a  pace  for  or  has  a  pace  made  by  such  in 
public  or  for  a  prize;  or  if  he  accepts,  directly  or  indirectly,  for  cycling, 
any  remuneration,  compensation,  or  expense  whatsoever." 

Class  B  is  one  "who  maj'^  be  in  the  employ  of,  and  have  his  travel- 
ling and  training  expenses  paid  by,  a  manufacturer  of  cycles,  club,  or 
other  parties  interested  in  cycling  ;  but  shall  not  compete  for  a  cash  or 
a  divisil)le  prize,  nor  realize  upon  any  prize  won  by  him,  except  that 
prizes  may  be  exchanged  or  bartered,  provided  that  in  no  case  a  cash 
bonus  is  received.  He  will  not  forfeit  his  status  by  teaching  the  ele- 
ments of  cycling,  but  he  will  cease  to  be  a  member  by  competing  with  a 
professional,  or  making  pace  for  or  having  ])ace  made  for  himself  by 
such  in  public  or  for  a  prize;  by  selling,  pawning,  or  otherwise  turning 
into  cash,  or  in  any  manner  realizing  cash,  upon  any  prize  won  by  him, 
except  that  they  may  be  exchanged  or  bartered,  as  provided  above." 

AVith  the   National   Cyclists'  Union,  which  has  made 


CYCLING  315 

three  legislators  of  the  Union  into  a  professional  licensing 
committee,  the  definition  reads : 

"  A  professional  is  a  rider  engaged  in  connection  with  a  ground  or 
track  as  trainer,  who  is  engaged  by  a  manufacturer  solely  for  the  pur- 
pose of  riding ;  or  who  acts  as  a  paid  pace-maker  in  record  trials  or 
pace-races ;  or  who  takes  parts  in  matches  for  stake  bets  with  other 
riders.  A  cash-prize  rider  is  one  who  races  for  cash  prizes,  and  who 
may  be  connected  with  the  trade,  or  riding  the  machines  or  goods  of 
the  firm  he  is  engaged  with  in  his  races;  being  engaged  partly  but  not 
solely  for  racing  purposes." 

Both  these  class  distinctions  of  the  League  of  Ameri- 
can Wheelmen  and  the  National  Cyclists'  Union  are  filled 
with  absurd  inconsistencies,  but  none  equal  to  that  of  the 
English  Union,  which  permits  both  classes  of  riders  to 
meet  in  the  same  race. 

In  an  attempt  to  explain  its  position  on  this  question 
the  National  Union  is  befuddled  in  difl'use  theorizing 
on  the  difference  between  the  cash-prize  rider  and  the 
professional,  making  preposterous  statements,  which, 
analyzed,  mean  simply  that  the  manufacturer  is  prod- 
ding it  into  creating  more  business.  It  proclaims  its  ob- 
ject to  be  that  of  popularizing  bicycling  by  raising  up  a 
new  class  of  riders,  professional  only  in  name,  but  really 
amateurs  not  rich  enough  to  race  for  anything  but  cash 
prizes  —  another  case  of  Coxeyism  in  sport;  but  the 
Union  is  nothing  if  not  optimistic,  as  may  be  judged  by 
the  rhetorical  gem  in  its  prospectus,  which  tells  us  the 
scheme  will  prove  "a  workable  and  satisfactory  system 
upon  which  to  work."  The  National  Cyclists'  Union  in 
its  dual  role  of  impresario  and  general  popularizer  of  cy- 
cling, fathering  both  amateur  and  money -prize  riders,  is 
assuredly  an  imposing  spectacle. 

If  professional  riding  was  moribund  before,  it  is  cer- 
tainly as  dead  as  the  proverbial  door-nail  now,  since  the 
Union  will  permit  its  riders  to  compete  for  money,  pro- 


316  A   SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

tecting  them  by  arbitrary  rules  against  all  challengers, 
unless  the  latter  become  dutiful  subjects,  paying  tribute 
to  that  hocus-pocus  of  a  licensing  committee  that  guards 
the  purity  of  cycling  in  England  forsooth. 

It  is  little  else  than  a  scheme,  and  a  corrupt  one  at  that, 
to  absolutely  control,  and  for  no  good  purpose,  racing  cy- 
cling in  Great  Britain ;  protecting  and  whitewashing  the 
cycle  manufacturers'  hirelings,  who,  but  for  the  speed 
which  enhances  their  advertising  qualifications,  would 
have  been  cast  into  outer  darkness  long  since.  They  may 
now  race  for  cash,  and  snap  their  fingers  at  less  favored 
riders  who  are  not  fast  enough  to  be  granted  similar 
privileges. 

So  in  America  the  League  of  American  Wheelmen,  find- 
ing itself  unable  or  unwilling,  or  both,  to  put  these  riders 
in  the  professional  ranks,  where  they  belong,  made  Class 
B  for  their  particular  emolument,  legalizing,  in  fact,  that 
whicli  they  had  not  the  courage  or  sportsmanship  to 
penalize. 

In  all  the  long  history  of  amateur  sport,  nothing  has 
ever  transpired  of  such  a  temporizing  nature  as  the  work- 
ings of  these  two  bodies  that  pretend  to  govern  racing 
cycling  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 

It  remains  to  be  seen  now  how  long  the  Amateur 
Athletic  Association  of  Great  Britain  and  the  Amateur 
Athletic  Union  of  the  United  States  will  play  the  role  of 
accomplice ;  for  that  is  precisely  their  position  if  this  job- 
lot  of  "  amateurs  "  is  permitted  to  race  at  athletic  meet- 
ings given  under  their  auspices.  If  such  were  the  case, 
then,  indeed,  might  we  as  well  give  over  all  track  cycling 
to  the  professional,  and  look  onW  to  the  universities  for 
honest  racing.  But  I  expect  the  best  clubs  in  the  A.  A.  A. 
and  A.  A.  U.  to  reject  Class  B  and  its  ilk,  and  a  revulsion  of 
feeling  against  the  present  wretched  condition  of  cycling. 


CYCLING  317 

The  first  cycle  races  in  England,  I  believe,  were  given 
in  the  Crystal  Palace,  in  1869,  in  conjunction  with  an 
exhibition  of  wheels,  and  both  created  general  interest. 
The  popular  wave  may  be  said  to  have  been  set  in  motion 
about  '75,  and  the  early  meetings  and  the  cycle  cham- 
pionship were  peaceably  held  under  the  auspices  of  the 
old  Amateur  Athletic  Club. 

From  the  hour  the  National  Cyclists'  Union  came  into 
the  field,  however,  an  era  of  strife,  internal  as  well  as 
external,  was  entered  upon.  At  first  the  Union  attempted 
to  supervise  all  cycling  in  England  from  its  headquarters, 
but  the  sport  grew  so  Avidely  that  in  '80  local  centres 
were  found  necessary  and  formed,  thereby  relieving  the 
Council  of  much  labor.  The  Council  is  composed  of 
members  of  affiliated  clubs  and  the  secretary  and  chair- 
man of  the  various  local  centres.  Each  local  centre  is 
really  a  local  union,  banded  with  other  local  unions  for 
the  more  thorough  supervision  of  cycling. 

In  '85  war  was  declared  between  the  National  Cyclists' 
Union  and  the  Amateur  Athletic  Association,  and  a 
vituperative  and  florid  campaign  entered  upon  that  has 
been  equalled  in  athletic  histor}'-  only  by  the  battle  royal 
between  our  Amateur  Athletic  Union  and  League  of 
American  Wheelmen  a  few  years  ago. 

To  view  general  wheeling  in  Great  Britain  is  a  much 
pleasanter  picture,  for  England  is  a  veritable  home  of  cy- 
cyling,  with  its  splendid  roads,  its  shady  lanes,  and  its 
closely  located  little  towns  picturesquel}^  nestled  along 
the  winding  highways.  What  a  countrj^  for  the  touring 
wheelman,  with  its  historic  associations,  its  fascinating 
and  soothing  rural  beauty,  its  vigor  -  imparting  climate! 
Here  he  may,  indeed,  gratify  all  the  senses  and  exercise 
his  muscles  simultaneously  in  one  of  the  choicest  garden 
spots  of  the  Old  World. 


318  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

One  fancies  all  England  must  be  awheel ;  in  London 
the  tradespeople  utilize  the  machine  for  the  delivery  of 
orders,  and  you  may  see  the  butcher's  boy  or  the  milk- 
man scudding  through  the  streets  on  the  tricycle,  while 
in  the  country  the  artisan,  with  tools  trapped  on  his 
back,  pedals  his  way  to  the  scene  of  his  daily  labors. 

The  Touring  Club  of  England,  formed  in  "TS,  has  done 
a  great  deal  in  bringing  about  road  improvement,  which 
began  in  '86,  w^hile  the  sleep}^  little  inns  that  were  fast 
falling  into  decay  from  lack  of  patronage  have  been  re- 
vivified by  the  thousands  of  touring  cyclists  that  in  sea- 
son trail  the  kingdom  from  end  to  end.  Indeed,  if  you 
pick  up  a  hotel  directory,  you  will  find  particular  adver- 
tising and  especial  inducements  offered  for  cyclists  as  a 
result  of  this  Touring  Club's  influence.  It  publishes  a 
complete  directory  for  members,  in  which  are  given  de- 
tailed road  direction,  the  most  desirable  hotels,  and  the 
shops  to  patronize  if  you  are  unfortunate  enough  to  break 
down ;  at  all  of  these  members  of  the  club  are  given  a 
reduced  tariff,  arranged  for  by  the  councils  which  are  in 
residence  throughout  England, 

The  oldest  club — the  Pickwick  B.  C. — was  formed  in 
'70,  the  London  B.  C.  being  the  next,  in  '74,  and  these, 
with  members  of  the  Surrey  and  Temple  B.  clubs,  formed 
the  National  Union,  but  the  sportsmen  who  gave  it  birth 
have  long  since  withdrawn  from  active  service. 

Oxford  and  Cambridge  had  cycling  from  '74  to  '85,  but 
since  the  beginning  of  the  present  era  of  corruption  they 
have  dropped  out  of  it  altogether,  and  the  event  is  not 
now  to  be  found  on  any  of  their  athletic  programmes. 

The  year  of  '93  in  England,  as  with  us,  saw  better  tires, 
improved  gearing,  and  consequently  an  advance  of  rec- 
ords. In  fact,  '93  was  a  year  of  pace-making  records,  for 
on  both  sides  the  ocean  these  racers  lived  about  the  track, 


CYCLING  319 

ready  to  seize  upon  the  most  favorable  opportunity  to 
ride  against  time.  Such  records  are,  undoubtedly,  of  little 
real  value,  and  it  is  an  extremely  difficult  matter  now 
to  compile  a  bicycling  table  that  shows  genuine  perform- 
ances, the  English  Union  having  gone  to  the  extreme  of 
recentl}'-  passing  a  rule  allowing  pace-makers  in  champion- 
ships. 

Eacing  cycling  under  present  methods  is  going  the 
way  of  all  sport  where  professionals  and  dishonesty  se- 
cure a  foothold.  Already  the  better  elements  have 
dropped  out  of  it,  and  dissolution  is  only  a  question  of 
time.  These  makers'  hirelings,  who  are  paid  to  keep  in 
training,  must  of  a  necessity  excel  the  men  who  ride  be- 
cause of  the  pleasure  it  affords  them,  and  give  but  a  per- 
centage of  their  time  to  getting  fit.  One  looks  upon  it 
as  giving  him  exercise  and  recreation ;  the  other,  as  a 
means  of  livelihood.  "With  one  it  is  sport;  with  the 
other  it  is  business. 


XIII 

CRICKET 

I  HAVE  left  cricket  among  the  last,  because  there  is  not  a 
creat  deal  I  can  write  about  it  that  will  interest  the  aver- 
age  American,  and  because  I  want  to  close  my  pilgrimage 
with  that  which  is  free  from  scandal  and  corruption,  and 
cricket  gives  me  the  desired  opportunity.  It  is  the  only 
one — always  excepting  golf,  Avhere  his  duties  are  tutori- 
al, as  indeed  they  are  to  a  considerable  extent  in  cricket — 
the  professional  has  entered  without  lowering  the  tone, 
reason  for  which  may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  there  has 
been  no  sailing  under  false  colors.  In  America  the  nation- 
al patience  seems  intolerant  of  a  game  that  requires  three 
days  of  play  to  determine  the  winner,  and  it  has  on  that 
account  alone,  I  have  no  doubt,  failed  of  popularity,  ex- 
cept in  a  ver}^  few  sections. 

It  may  be  said,  in  fact,  that  the  American  game  thrives 
only  in  Philadelphia.  Elevens  are  maintained  in  New 
York,  Boston,  Baltimore,  Detroit,  Chicago,  and  in  San 
Francisco,  but  they  are  almost  wholly  composed  of  Eng- 
lishmen. Nevertheless  the  last  two  years  have  shown  a 
slight  increased  interest  and  improved  form  ;  but  Phila- 
delphia remains  the  American  cricket  centre,  and  the  only 
one  that  can  turn  out  an  all-gentleman  team  of  "  county  " 
class.  In  England,  however,  cricket  is  considered  almost 
part  of  the  school-boy's  education.  It  has  been  called 
the  national  game,  and  perhaps  rightly  so ;  yet,  in  truth, 
my  investigations  led  me  to  conclude  that  both  in  point 


CRICKET  323 

of  spectators  and  players  cricket  had  dropped  into  second 
place  in  popularity  since  the  tremendous  football  Avave 
spread  over  the  British  Isles. 

But  cricket,  however,  has  the  advantage  of  being  played 
everywhere  by  gentlemen,  and  its  matches  therefore  at- 
tract the  largest  percentage  of  fashion  of  any  sporting 
events  in  England.  That  the  game  really  has  a  refining 
influence  was  impressed  upon  me  by  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Athletic  Association,  who  said  that  ^vhen  invited 
to  ofliciate  at  athletic  sports  in  provincial  England  he  nev- 
er felt  disturbed  over  his  reception  if  the  games  happened 
to  be  under  the  auspices  of  a  club  wath  a  cricket  depart- 
ment ;  but  if  given  by  an  athletic  club  pure  and  simple, 
he.  invariably  made  arrangements  to  return  by  the  first 
train  after  the  games. 

Cricket  was  first  mentioned  in  the  sixteenth  century, 
chiefly  as  a  boy's  game,  and  as  such  continued  to  be  con- 
sidered in  the  seventeenth,  nor  did  it  attain  the  dignity 
of  man's  estate,  so  to  speak,  until  the  formation  of  the 
Hambledon  Club,  at  the  opening  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury. 

Originally  —  so  the  historians  tell  us  —  the  game  was 
called  stoolball,  and  consisted  of  a  batsman  defending  a 
stool  Avith  his  hand  against  the  tossing  of  the  ball  by  a 
player,  wdio  tried  to  bowl  the  primitive  stumps,  and  when 
successful  took  his  turn  at  the  thrilling  defence.  Evi- 
dently the  game  was  nearly  as  exciting  then  as  now.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century  the  bat  was 
crooked,  a  form  which  continued  until  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  when  for  the  first  time,  too,  cricket 
was  mentioned  in  literature. 

It  shows  that  there  are  always  some  disgruntled  mor- 
tals in  the  world  to  find  fault  with  whatever  attains  pop- 
ularity, for  even  this  gentle  game  found  detractors,  who 


324  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

bemoaned  its  existence  in  the  eighteenth  century,  proclaim- 
ing that  it  "  propagates  a  spirit  of  idleness." 

The  world-famed  Marylebone  Club,  the  parliament  of 
cricket,  was  formed  about  1T8T  (Eton  had  played  cricket 
in  1750)  by  some  of  the  members  of  the  White  Conduit 
Club,  which  had  just  been  dissolved.  No  one  thinks  of  ques- 
tioning its  prerogatives,  and  although  there  is  no  associa- 
tion and  no  law  compelling  clubs  to  abide  by  the  Maryle- 
bone rulings,  yet  they  all  choose,  and  are  glad  to  do  so. 

The  historic  Lord's,  headquarters  of  the  Marylebone 
Club,  was  originally  a  plot  of  ground  laid  out  by  Thomas 
Lord  and  some  other  members  of  the  White  Conduit  Club 
in  what  is  now  known  as  Dorset's  Square,  London.  It 
was  moved  once,  and  again  in  1814  to  the  present  ground, 
where  the  first  match — Marylebone  Cricket  Club  vs.  Hert- 
fordshire —  was  played  the  same  year.  It  is  the  scene  of 
all  the  Marylebone  Cricket  Club  -  Middlesex,  Eton -Har- 
row, Oxford-Cambridge,  and  Gentlemen-Players'  matches, 
though  some  of  the  latter  are  also  decided  at  Kenning- 
ton  Oval.  Oxford  and  Cambridge  played  their  first  inter- 
'varsity  match  in  1827;  the  Gentlemen-Players'  their  first 
in  1800  ;  Eton  and  Harrow  in  1805. 

A  cricket  match  at  Lord's  is  a  sight  worth  crossing  the 
ocean  to  witness,  for  it  brings  out  all  classes,  and  one  may 
see  every  type  of  England's  social  fabric  represented  in 
the  pavilion  and  in  the  immense  public  stands. 

Cricket  England  is  divided  into  counties  which  play  off 
a  championship  series,  and  from  the  leaders  are  chosen 
the  pla3''ers  for  the  All-England  eleven. 

The  first-class  counties,  as  decided  by  the  season  of  '93 
play,  were  Yorkshire,  Lancashire,  ]\Iiddlesex,  Kent,  Surrey, 
Kottinghamshire,  Sussex,  Somerset,  and  Gloucestershire. 

The  second  class,  Derbyshire,  Warwickshire,  Essex,  Lei- 
cestershire, Cheshire,  Hampshire,  and  Staffordshire. 


AVILION    AT    LORD  I 


The  first  have  an  organized  inter-county  competition, 
but  not  so  with  the  second,  which  seems  like  ignoring 
teams  that  furnish  unqualifiedly  good  sport,  and  that 
could  be  greatly  improved  by  the  institution  of  a  regular 
championship  series.  There  has  been  some  agitation  of 
doing  away  with  the  first  and  second  class  count}^  distinc- 
tion, but  nothing  has  come  of  it  thus  far. 

The  batting  and  bowling  averages  of  the  first-class 
elevens  are  carefully  compiled  at  the  end  of  the  season, 
and  an  annual  list  of  the  highest  published.  That  these 
averages  of  skill  are  high  the  following  records  of  '93 
will  show : 

Fourteen  batsmen  made  over  1000  runs. 

Two  batsmen  (one  a  professional — Gunn)  made  over 
2000  runs. 

Sixty -nine  made  individual  innings  of  over  100,  and  the 
highest  of  these  were  195, 191, 186,  ISO,  171,  169, 164, 159, 
156,  154,  150. 

The  best  averages  (amateurs) : 

A.  E.  Stoddart,  50  innings,  2072  runs;  average,  42.14. 

F.  S.  Jackson,  36  innings,  1328  runs ;  average,  41.16. 


326  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

Eev.  W.  Rahleigh,  14  innings,  482  runs  ;  average,  37.1. 

"W.  G.  Grace,  50  innings,  1609  runs ;  average,  35.31. 

Gunn,  the  professional,  made  in  51  innings  2057  runs, 
an  average  of  42.1:1. 

Bowling  averages  (amateur) : 

C.  M.  Wells,  overs,  453.3  ;  runs,  1049  ;  wickets,  73  ;  av- 
erage, 14.27. 

C.  J.  Kortwright,  overs,  82.3  ;  runs,  269;  wickets,  17; 
average,  15.14. 

H.  E.  B.  Davenport,  overs,  228..1 ;  runs,  560 ;  wickets, 
32;  average,  17.16. 

J.  T.  Hearne  made  the  highest  professional  bowling 
average  with  overs,  1741.4;  runs,  3492;  wickets,  2.12; 
average,  16.100 ;  the  next  highest  professional  being  Mr. 
Peel,  overs,  1060.3;  runs,  1722;  wickets,  121;  average, 
14.28. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  amateurs  hold  their  own 
well  with  the  professionals  in  both  batting  and  in  bowling, 
though  more  particularly  in  the  batting,  for  in  neither  case 
did  the  latter,  beyond  Hearne  and  Peel,  average  so  high. 

Until  the  famous  W.  G.  Grace  began  his  wonderful  ca- 
reer along  in  the  latter  part  of  the  sixties,  and  that  has 
lasted  up  to  date  despite  his  age,  the  batting  of  the  pro- 
fessionals averaged  very  much  higher  than  that  of  the 
amateurs ;  but  nowada3^s  there  is  very  little  difference,  or, 
if  any,  it  is  in  favor  of  the  amateurs.  In  bowling  the  pre- 
dominance of  skill  still  rests  with  the  professionals. 

Xo  game  shows  so  little  difference  between  the  skill  of 
amateurs  and  professionals — the  latter  doing  the  bowling 
and  coaching  for  practically  all  the  elevens  in  England — 
for  there  is  none  to  which  the  former  give  so  much  time. 
A  very  large  majority  of  cricketers  do  little  else  but  play 
cricket  during  season,  and  therefore  the  two  classes  con- 
tend on  more  even  terms  than  in  any  other  sport. 


CRICKET  329 

The  fact  that  in  England  cricket  is  largely  a  game  of 
the  leisure  class,  which  has  the  advantage  of  playing 
against  and  under  the  instruction  of  the  most  skilled  pro- 
fessionals in  the  world,  explains  also  their  much  higher 
standard  of  play  as  compared  with  the  American  game. 

A  great  deal  of  rivalry  exists  between  the  counties, 
wdiich  creates  a  careful  scrutiny  of  all  the  clever  players 
within  the  county  boundaries,  and  sometimes  the  base  of 
residence  is  changed  in  a  hurried  manner  altogether  un- 
seemly in  the  dignified  Britisher.  As  a  result  of  these 
efforts  by  counties  to  outdo  one  another,  and  the  conse- 
quent struggle  to  get  men  of  known  ability,  the  amateur 
question  was  once  raised,  and  led  to  a  situation  so  strained 
that  the  Marylebone  Club,  which  is  not  easy  to  move,  was 
obliged  to  take  cognizance  of  the  disturbance,  and  ruled 
that  players  might  be  paid  their  expenses  if  clubs  chose 
to  do  so. 

Men  sometimes  take  up  their  residence  in  a  county 
simply  to  play  on  the  eleven ;  but  it  has  never  been  carried 
to  a  harmful  point,  and  cricket  has  remained  untouched 
by  scandal  and  is  undeniably  honest  sport. 

Count}^  play  is,  after  all,  the  most  pleasing  feature  of 
English  cricket. 

At  Oxford  and  Cambridge  each  college  has  an  eleven, 
from  which  the  'varsity  is  .chosen  in  a  manner  similar 
to  that  which  rules  in  football  and  others,  and  here,  as 
at  Eton  and  Harrow,  the  Marylebone  Club  is,  of  course, 
the  high  court  of  appeal. 

There  are  no  other  games  on  at  the  time  of  the  cricket 
season  at  either  the  public  schools  or  the  colleges,  and  it  is 
therefore  very  generally  played,  and  without  any  training 
whatsoever — not  even  so  much  as  maintained  in  football. 

Every  town  in  England  has  a  green  common  to  its  in- 
habitants, and  with  usually  a  cricket  historv  of  its  own. 


S30  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

Here  the  matches  are  played,  and  here  the  great  mass  of 
players  receive  their  first  schooling.  It  is  astonishing 
what  a  number  of  youngsters  play  cricket  throughout  the 
country,  and  what  an  interest  is  taken  in  the  game  by  the 
villagers.  The  following  high  score  records  will  show 
what  has  been  done  where  cricket  has  reached  its  highest 
•development : 

803,  Non-Smokers  vs.  Smokers,  at  East  Melbourne,  March  17,  1887 ; 
775,  New  South  Wales  vs.  Victoria,  at  Sydney,  February  10,  1882 ;  703 
(for  nine  wickets,  innings  declared  closed),  Cambridge  University  vs. 
Sussex,  at  Brighton,  June  19, 1890  (higliest  in  England) ;  698,  Surrey  rs. 
Sussex,  at  Kennington  Oval,  August  9,  1888  (highest  score  in  a  county 
match) ;  650,  Surrey  vs.  Oxford  University,  at  Kennington  Oval,  June 
24,1888;  650,  Surrey  vs.  Hampshire,  at  tiie  Oval,  May  24,  1883;  643, 
Australians  vs.  Sussex,  at  Brighton,  May  18,  1882  (highest  by  an  Aus- 
tralian team  in  England)  ;  635,  Surrey  vs.  Somersetshire,  at  the  Oval, 
August  10,  1885;  614,  Surrey  vs.  Oxford  University,  at  the  Oval,  June 
.24,  1889 ;  612,  Oxford  vs.  Middlesex,  at  Prince's,  June  19,  1876. 


XIV 

GOLF 

Never  was  sporting  England  more  seriously  afflicted 
than  it  is  to-day  by  golfiana.  Never  was  a  situation 
so  incongruous  with  our  orthodox  preconception  as  that 
of  the  Britisher  in  the  throes  of  this  disease,  for  disease  it 
certainly  is,  and  not  the  less  deeply  seated  for  faihng  to 
disclose  its  symptoms. 

To  the  occasional  or  casual  observer  there  appears  in 
the  Englishman's  demeanor  on  the  links  no  departure 
from  his  usual  placidity.  He  stalks  upon  the  grounds 
with  habitual  solemnity,  and  takes  up  the  game  in  the 
same  seriousness  that  has  been  associated  with  him  at 
play.  If  the  on -looker  follows  the  player  around  the 
course,  he  seeks  in  vain  for  any  visible  sign  of  that  joy- 
ous spirit  which  he,  likely  as  not,  has  imagined  fitting 
accompaniment  to  athletic  contest. 

But  in  golf  the  Briton  is  a  contradiction.  He  gives  no 
outward  evidence  of  perturbation,  though,  to  borrow  top- 
ical opera  slang,  he  boils  within.  It  is  only  to  his  famil- 
iars in  the  club-house  and  around  his  own  board  that  the 
Englishman  reveals  himself,  and  there,  by  the  softening 
influences  of  good  cheer,  may  you  discover  how  hopeless 
a  victim  he  is  to  the  ancient  and  royal  game. 

Before  he  has  finished  his  Scotch  and  soda  he  will  play 
over  again  every  stroke  of  that  last  round  in  Avhich  he 
was  beaten  a  single  hole,  and  then  take  up  in  elaborate 
detail  certainly  every  bunker  and  almost  every  brae  on 


332 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


the  course,  until  he  has  at  length  decided  to  his  complete 
satisfaction  on  the  identical  stroke  and  spot  that  caused 
his  downfall.  I  should  be  willing  to  give  long  odds  in  a 
wager  on  every  golfing  enthusiast  in  Great  Britain  being 
able  to  find,  blindfolded,  an}^  given  hazard  on  his  home 
links,  and  the  great  majorit}"  of  hazards  on  every  course 
in  England  or  Scotland.  To  hear  them  discuss  strokes  to 
evade,  I  was  near  saying,  almost  every  bit  of  whin,  and 
locate  every  sand  dune,  is  to  gain  some  idea  of  the  range 
and  strength  of  golf-mania. 


J 

^^^-jt 

by 

y  \ 

.   '     . 

ALMOST   AS   EXCITING    AS  SALMON    FISHING 


I  was  prepared  to  find  the  country  gone  golf-crazy,  but 
I  found  instead  a  condition  bordering  on  what  I  have 
called  golf-insomnia,  though  I  should  add  that  my  observa- 
tions were  made  from  esoteric  vantage-ground.  At  first  I 
was  disappointed,  and  ascribed  the  stories  I  had  heard  of 
the  golf-furor  to  newspaper  license ;  I  had  looked  for  some 
familiar  token  by  which  I  might  recognize  the  craze — signs 
such  as  in  America  indicate  unmistakably  that  a  boom  is 
on.     But  my  first  visit  to  links  so  depressed  me  that  I 


—  n^lan  of— 
Qp LFING  Gou F\S E , 
Sly^N  DREWS. 


334  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

nearly  reached  a  determination  to  pass  by  golf  altogether 
in  ray  pilgrimage  —  in  the  eventual  failure  of  which  reso- 
lution my  readers  have  my  heartfelt  sympathy. 

I  had  but  just  returned  to  London  after  an  exciting 
day's  sport  with  the  Devon  and  Somerset  stag-hounds,  and 
concluded  to  devote  an  afternoon  to  golf  at  Wimbledon, 
which  is  in  the  suburbs  of  London,  and  will  be  remem- 
bered by  Americans  as  the  scene  of  the  international  rifle 
matches. 

It  was  a  disillusionizing  experience,  that  first  sight  of 
the  much  -  heralded  and  antique  game.  Speaking  retro- 
spectively, I  am  not  sure  I  have  a  very  distinct  recollec- 
tion of  just  what  I  reckoned  on  viewing ;  I  do  not  believe 
I  expected  to  see  players  astride  their  clubs  prancing 
about  the  teeing-ground  in  ill-concealed  eagerness  for  the 
affray,  nor  a  dense  and  cheering  throng  of  spectators  sur- 
rounding the  putting-green  of  the  home  hole,  nor  triumph- 
antly shouldered  victors  borne  from  the  field  amid  hosan- 
nas  and  tumultuous  applause  by  the  populace.  We  Ameri- 
cans, I  know,  are  nothing  if  not  speculative,  but  I  really 
question  if  such  a  will-o'-the-wisp  danced  to  my  seduction 
on  the  journey  out  to  Wimbledon.  Yet  I  do  remember  I 
had  read  so  much  in  the  papers  and  heard  so  much  in  the 
clubs  that  I  was  led  to  look  for  a  certain  amount  of  ani- 
mation on  the  links,  tempered,  of  course,  by  the  national 
disposition. 

Even  as  I  write  now  I  can  feel  again  the  dejection  that 
came  over  me  in  successive  and  widening  waves  as  I  looked 
for  the  first  time  on  the  game  that  is  reported  to  have 
converted  in  the  last  two  or  three  years  more  disciples 
than  any  other  in  the  old  country.  At  first  I  thought  I 
had  gone  on  the  links  during  a  lull  in  the  play.  Then  I 
persuaded  myself  that  I  had  arrived  on  a  day  set  apart  for 
the  convalescents  of  some  near-by  sanitarium,  but  as  I  dis- 


GOLF  387 

covered  my  error  in  the  ruddy  imprint  of  health  on  their 
cheeks,  my  wonder  grew  that  so  many  vigorous  young 
and  middle-aged  men  could  find  amusement  in  what  ap- 
peared to  me  to  be  a  melancholy  and  systematized  "  con- 
stitutional." Once  recovered  from  the  initial  shock,  I 
found  amusement  in  the  awful  solemnity  that  enveloped 
the  on-lookers  about  the  putting-green,  every  mother's  son 
of  whom  watched  the  holing  out  with  bated  breath.  One, 
standing  next  to  me  in  the  crowd,  and  whose  pleasing  face 
gave  encouragement,  while  the  frequency  Avith  which  he 
had  trod  on  my  toes  seemed  to  me  to  have  established  a 
sufficient  entente  cordiale  between  us,  bestowed  upon  me, 
when  I  asked  why  no  one  called  the  number  of  strokes 
each  player  had  taken,  so  we  would  all  know  how  they 
stood,  such  a  look  of  righteous  horror  as  I  am  sure  would 
have  caused  any  but  an  irrepressible  American  to  wish  the 
earth  might  open  and  swallow  him.  But  being  an  Ameri- 
can it  simply  increased  my  thirst  for  knowledge,  and  at 
the  next  sally  I  upset  him  completely  by  asking  why  a 
player,  who  was  executing  the  "  waggle"  with  all  the  de- 
liberate nicety  of  one  thoroughly  appreciative  of  that  im- 
portant prelude  to  the  flight  of  the  ball,  did  not  hit  it  in- 
stead of  wasting  so  much  time  and  energy  flourishing  his 
^'  stick  "  above  it. 

To  have  alluded  with  levjty  to  one  of  the  rudimentary 
functions  of  the  game  was  appalling  enough  in  all  con- 
science, but  to  have  called  a  club  a  stick  was  too  much  for 
my  neighbor,  and  he  of  the  aggressive  feet  moved  away 
from  the  tee  with  a  pained  expression  clouding  the  open 
countenance  that  had  tempted  my  golfing  innocence. 

Subsequent  and  solitary  wanderings  about  the  links 
brought  but  little  solace  to  my  joyless  sporting  soul,  for  it 
seemed  that  at  every  turning  I  was  challenged  by  loud 
and  emphatic  cries  of  "  fore,"  the  significance  of  which  I 

22 


;338 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


did  not  understand,  while  the  air  appeared  to  be  filled  with 
flying  balls  that  whizzed  past  at  uncomfortable  proximity, 
or  alighted  just  behind  me,  after  a  flight  of  a  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  or  so,  with  a  thud  far  from  reassuring.  It  does 
not  seem  probable  such  a  situ- 
ation could  under  any  circum- 
stances have  a  humorous  side ; 
but  it  may,  and  I  have  laughed 
until  my  head  ached  over  the 
comical  consternation  of  some 
luckless  and  obstinate  duifer, 
who,  instead  of  permitting,  as 
courtesy  and  tradition  teach, 
more  skilful  following  players 
to  pass  him,  continued  on  his 
laborious  and  turf  -  bruising 
way,  driven  into  by  those  im- 
mediately back  of  him,  and 
damned  by  every  golfer  on  the 
"bunkered"  links.     Given  an  irascible  and 

stubborn  and  indifferent  (a 
combination  that  has  been  known  to  exist)  leading  player, 
Avith  following  balls  dropping  around  him,  and  I  fancy 
even  an  Englishman,  if  he  is  not  playing,  will  acknowl- 
edge the  picture  mirth-provoking.  At  Wimbledon  I  was 
the  hapless  but  by  no  means  adjectived  victim,  for  though 
I  was  looking  for  animation,  it  was  in  the  role  of  specta- 
tor rather  than  that  of  participant. 

What  broke  the  gloom  of  that  first  day  of  my  experi- 
ence, and  turned  indifference  to  a  desire  for  knowledge, 
were  the  individual  manoeuvres  on  the  putting-green, 
which,  sometimes  grotesque,  frequently  picturesque,  and 
invariablv  fraught  with  the  weightiest  meditation,  con- 
vinced me  that  any  game  requiring  such  earnest  play 


GOLF 


339 


must  improve  on  acquaintance.  The  putting-green  pre- 
sents a  scene  for  the  student  of  human  nature,  Avith  its 
exhibitions  of  temperaments  and  varied  styles  of  play; 
one  will  make  a  minute  and  lengthy  survey  over  the  few 
yards  of  turf  that  separate  his  ball  from  the  hole,  and  at- 
tain the  climax  of  his  joy  or  woe  by  a  short,  sharp  tap 
with  the  club ;  another  devotes  his  critical  attention  to 
the  lie  of  the  ball,  followed  by  a  painfully  deliberate  aim 
that  seems  never  to  quite  reach  the  explosive-point ;  some 
appear  to  acquire  confidence  by  the  narrowing  of  the 
human  circle  around  the  hole ;  others  wave  all  back  save 
their  caddie,  who,  like  a  father  confessor,  remains  at  their 
side  administering  unction  of  more  or  less  extremity  to 
the  last. 

The  duties  of  the  caddie  are  manifold,  including  the 
responsibilities  of  preceptor,  doctor,  and  lawyer.  He  will 
be  called  upon  to  devise  means  of  escape  from  soul-trying 
bunkers,  administer  to  the  wounded  pride  of  the  unsuc- 
cessful, and  turn  legislator  at  a  crowded  teeing-ground ; 
he  must  even  at  times  serve  as  a  foil  to  the  wrath  of  the 


CLUB-HOUSE    AND    HOMK    HOI.K,   ST.  ANDREWS 


340  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

disconsolate  plaN^er  who  has  "  foozled  "  a  drive  that  was 
confidently  expected  to  carry  him  safely  beyond  a  formi- 
dable hazard.  There  are  caddies  and  caddies,  to  be  sure, 
but  when  of  the  right  sort,  no  servants,  I  fancy,  receive 
such  marked  evidence  of  their  master's  regard.  Most  of 
them  are  Scotch,  and  some  of  them  the  most  picturesque 
figures  on  the  golfing-green. 

I  was  shortly  to  have  my  wish  for  knowledge  fulfilled, 
for  not  a  week  after  ni}^  AVimbledon  experience  a  Good 
Samaritan,  in  the  guise  of  a  handsome  type  of  the  beau- 
ideal  Briton  —  six  feet  in  height,  and  with  cheeks  that 
bloomed  as  rosy  as  a  girl's — introduced  me  to  the  Eane- 
lagh  links,  and  so  let  his  good-nature  get  the  better  of  his 
judgment  as  to  undertake  the  direction  of  my  golfing 
education.  I  dare  say  he  was  misled  into  this  rash  un- 
dertaking by  my  evident  confidence  in  myself,  which  was 
really  supreme.  I  had  previously  gone  around  the  links 
a  couple  of  times  with  a  very  respectable  score  for  a 
duffer,  and  grown  thoroughly  convinced  of  my  ability  to 
master  the  game  very  sJiortl}'".  I  did  not  know  it  at 
that  time,  but  I  was  just  in  prime  condition  to  become  a 
convert. 

To  obtain  a  full  appreciation  of  the  charms  and  difficul- 
ties of  golf  you  must  have  acquired  a  settled  conviction 
of  its  inferiority  as  a  game  requiring  either  skill  or  expe- 
rience ;  you  must  have  looked  upon  it  with  supreme  con- 
tempt, and  catalogued  it  as  a  sport  for  invalids  and  old 
men.  When  you  have  reached  this  frame  of  mind  go  out 
on  to  the  links  and  try  it.  I  never  believed  a  club  could 
be  held  in  so  many  different  ways  but  the  right  one  until 
I  essayed  golf,  nor  dreamed  it  so  difficult  to  drive  a  ball 
in  a  given  direction.  The  devotion  of  the  golfer  to  his 
game  is  only  equalled  by  the  contempt  of  him  who  looks 
upon  it  for  the  first  time.     You  wonder  at  a  great  many 


341 


A    LOST    BALL 


things  when  you  first  see  it  played,  but  your  wonderment 
is  greatest  that  a  game  which  appears  so  simple  should 
have  created  such  a  furor. 

The  secret  of  its  fascina- 
tion rests  largely  in  the  fact 
tliat  it  beats  the  player,  and 
he,  in  his  perversity,  strives 
the  harder  to  secure  the  un- 
attainable. 

The  game  is  by  no  means 
easy;  in  fact,  one  of  Eng- 
land's foremost  players  as- 
serts that  it  takes  six 
months  of  steady  play  to 
acquire  consistent  form. 
You  must  hit  the  ball  prop- 
erly to  send  it  in  the  de- 
sired   direction,   and    you 

must  deal  with  it  as  you  find  it ;  you  cannot  arrange  the 
ball  to  suit  your  better  advantage,  nor  await  a  more  satis- 
factory one,  as  in  baseball  and  cricket.  The  club  must 
be  held  correctly  and  swung  accurately  in  order  to  prop- 
erly address  the  ball,  from  which  the  player  should  never 
take  his  eye,  while  at  the  same  time  he  must  move  abso- 
lutely freely,  and  yet  maintain  an  exact  balance.  Besides 
which,  it  demands  judgment  and  good  temper,  and  if  you 
fail  in  the  latter  your  play  will  be  weakened  on  the  many 
trying  occasions  that  arise. 

It  is  a  selfish  game,  where  each  man  fights  for  himself, 
seizing  every  technicality  for  his  own  advantage,  and 
there  is  no  doubt  that  to  this  fact  its  popularity  may  in  a 
large  measure  be  attributed.  Unlike  cricket,  baseball,  or 
football,  one  is  not  dependent  on  others  for  play.  You 
can  usually  find  some  one  to  make  up  a  match,  or  vou 


342  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

may  go  over  the  course  alone,  getting  the  best  of  practice 
and  fairly  good  sport,  or  at  least  there  is  always  a  caddie 
to  be  had  for  the  asking  and  the  usual  small  fee. 

The  exercise  may  be  gentle,  but  whosoever  fancies  golf 
does  not  test  the  nerves  should  play  a  round  on  popular 
links.  Unless  he  is  a  veteran  of  tried  experience  he  can- 
not be  indifferent  to  the  scrutiny  to  which  his  form  is 
subjected  at  the  tee,  nor  does  it  make  him  more  certain 


HOLK    O     CROSS,   IIKATHERY    HOI.K,   HIGH    HOLE,   AND    THK    RIVER    EDEN,   ST.  ANDREWS 

of  his  swing  to  know  that  he  is  being  mentally  criticised 
by  the  most  skilled  players  in  the  world.  If  he  is  a  nov- 
ice, he  is  pretty  apt  to  top  his  ball  on  the  drive,  and  fancy 
all  kinds  of  maledictions  heaped  upon  his  duffer  play  by 
those  awaiting  their  turn  at  the  tee.  I  should  advise  a 
beginner  to  serve  his  novitiate  on  little-frequented  links, 
if  such  are  to  be  found  in  Great  Britain,  for  on  popular 
ones  both  his  pleasure  and  form  are  likely  to  suffer.     He 


GOLF  343 

is  sure  to  make  Avild  drives  and  erratic  iron  shots  in  his 
anxiety  to  play  hurriedly  and  keep  out  of  the  way  of 
following  golfers,  and  it  is  not  calculated  to  increase  his 
accuracy  to  hear  balls  dropping  around  him,  and  to  know 
he  is  delaying  the  game  of  a  dozen  or  more  back  of  him. 
But  the  duffer's  trials  are  suspended  for  the  time  being 
once  he  has  reached  the  putting-green,  since  tradition 
rules  that  here  on  this  golfing  sanctuary  no  man  may 
drive  into  or  molest  him.  And  yet  his  respite  is  but  half 
enjoyed,  and  not  at  all  shared  by  his  partner,  if  it  be  a 
four-some  match,  for  the  desirability  of  always  being 
"up"  in  his  putts  having  been  vigorously  impressed  upon 
him,  he  is  likely,  in  his  zeal  and  wish  to  win  a  look  of 
approval  from  that  patient  individual,  to  entirely  over- 
shoot the  hole. 

It  would  take  all  my  space  were  I  to  attempt  a  list  of 
the  golfing  clubs  of  Great  Britain ;  but  the  publication 


ROVAL    NORTH    DKVON    CI.UB-HOUSK    AND    FIIIST    TEEIN(i-(iROUM), 


344  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

of  a  350-page  annual  compendium,  which  devotes  itself 
mainly  to  the  subject,  rather  suggests  what  that  number 
may  be,  and  gives,  too,  a  good  idea  of  the  game's  popular- 
ity. I  do  not  know  of  another  sport  on  either  side  of  the 
Atlantic  that  is  similarly  treated  by  the  publisher.  But 
one  need  not  resort  to  literature  to  catch  the  popular 
trend,  which  in  England  has  spread  at  such  a  pace  that 
nowadays  you  need  only  lay  out  links,  build  a  hotel,  and 
you  have  founded  a  town.  As  for  Scotland  —  well,  one 
expects  golf  up  there,  and  one  gets  it.  The  coast  is  sim- 
ply a  succession  of  links,  and  the  vision  of  beknickerbock- 
ered,  begaitered,  and  beclubbed  men  is  a  never-fading 
one.  There  is  a  certain  indefinable  charm  in  the  golfing 
atmosphere  of  Scotland  one  does  not  find  in  England, 
and  not  altogether  explained  by  the  more  picturesque 
surroundings  of  the  northern  links,  that  wooes  you  irresist- 
ibly ;  an  unobtrusive  assumption  of  superiority  by  its 
players,  that  evinces  itself  in  kindly  suggestion  rather 
than  arrogant  admonition,  and  caddies  that  seem  to  be 
following  on  in  a  line  of  hereditary  dignity. 

I  know  my  greatest  enjoyment  was  obtained  by  wan- 
dering over  the  St.  Andrews  links  with  a  gray-haired  old 
caddie,  who  told  me,  among  a  chapter  of  picturesque  bits, 
that  he  had  many  a  time  carried  Mr.  George  Glennie's 
clubs,  and  similarly  officiated  for  Tom  Morris.  I  do  not 
believe  I  know  anything  quite  so  delicious,  not  even  the 
ancient  angler,  as  a  talkative  and  reminiscent  caddie. 
Of  course,  on  sober  reflection,  you  realize  he  is  drawing 
on  his  vivid  imagination;  but  the  difference  and  the 
charm  is  that  while  the  fisherman  only  half  convinces, 
somehow  there  is  such  an  earnestness  about  the  caddie  as 
he  recounts  the  most  unheard-of  shots,  and  the  air  is  so 
charged  with  golfing  intoxicant,  that  your  credulity  is  up 
to  an}'  tale,  and  you  fall  a  willing  victim  to  the  blandish- 


it 


GOLF  347 

merits  of  the  insinuating  servant  of  the  ancient  and  royal 
game.  But  do  not  get  the  impression  that  all  caddies  are 
so  picturesque  or  entertaining;  their  imaginations  may  be 
and  undoubtedly  are  quite  as  productive,  but  it  is  only  the 
rare  few  that  lend  so  fetching  a  setting  to  their  garrulity. 

The  caddie  pure  and  simple  occupies  the  lowest  stratum 
of  professional  golf ;  he  may  earn  his  way  to  the  ranks  of 
the  professional  players,  if  he  is  capable  and  provident,  or, 
if  he  is  shiftless,  he  will  supplement  his  work  on  the  links 
by  odd  jobs  here  and  there,  with  no  ambition  for  a  pro- 
fessional career.  The  latter  specimen  can  make  about  a 
dollar  a  day  carrying  clubs,  or  twice  that  amount  if  he 
plays  a  couple  of  rounds,  and  he  usually  divides  his  time 
between  the  links  and  the  dram-shop.  Some  of  the  more 
trustworthy  of  this  class  serve  additionally  as  rough-and- 
ready  valets  at  about  twenty  dollars  a  month,  and  the 
more  thrifty,  again,  earn  an  extra  few  pence  by  commis- 
sions on  the  clubs  they  sell.  All  must  be  capable  on  the 
links  or  they  cannot  earn  their  salt.  Nothing  is  more  ex- 
asperating than  a  poor  caddie,  and  he  is  not  tolerated, 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  he  may  make  himself  invaluable, 
and  his  services  always  in  demand. 

The  autocrat  of  all  golf  professionals  is  the  green- 
keeper,  employed  by  a  club  on  salary  to  officiate  as  gen- 
eral custodian,  and  who  usually  has  under  him  several 
lesser  lights  in  the  professional  world,  that,  differing  from 
the  caddie  class,  invariably  follow  golf  as  a  means  of 
livelihood,  by  either  teaching  or  making  up  four-somes 
with  amateurs;  they  may  and  frequently  do  have  an 
interest  in  a  club-manufacturer's  shop,  or,  failing  of  such 
consequence,  take  a  turn  at  the  bench  at  day's  wages. 

I  cannot  say  if  the  native  views  it  in  the  same  light, 
but  I  concluded  before  I  had  half  finished  my  tour  that 
the  attraction  of  golf  was  as  much  due  to  the  atmosphere 


of  tradition  on  the  links  and  good-fellowship  in  the  clubs 
as  to  the  qualities  of  the  game  itself.  I  doubt  if  we  in 
America  will  ever  be  able  to  extract  so  much  pleasure 
from  it.  Our  dispositions,  our  temperaments,  are  not 
golf -like  ;  we  hurry  through  life  at  too  rapid  a  gait ;  we 
have  not  the  time  to  give  golf  in  order  to  gain  that  re- 
sponsive charm  the  game  holds  for  the  leisurely  suitor. 
Before  I  sailed  for  the  other  side  I  had  played  on  the 
St.  Andrews  course  at  Yonkers  (New  York),  the  oldest 
in  America,  but  it  required  a  day  on  links  in  the  old 
country  to  bring  me  under  the  influence ;  on  this  side  I 
had  thought  it  an  entertaining  way  of  taking  gentle  ex- 
ercise in  agreeable  company;  on  the  other  side  the  asso- 
ciations of  the  green,  the  memories,  constantly  recalled, 
of  famous  players,  the  enthusiastic  discussion  of  strokes 
around  the  hospitable  board  of  the  club,  combine  to  your 
final  unconditional  surrender  to  the  golfing  spirit. 


GOLF  349 

The  omnipresent  memories  of  the  game  that  sahite 
3^011  ever3nYhere  are  what  entrance  you ;  and  where  will 
3^ou  find  them  so  dear  or  so  abounding  as  at  St.  Andrews  ? 
Not  to  have  been  to  St.  Andrews  is  not  to  have  seen  golf 
at  home,  for  despite  the  greater  age  of  Blackheath  in 
England,  the  Scottish  green  is  universally  regarded  as  the 
alma  mater  of  the  game.  It  is  a  connecting  link  with 
the  past,  from  the  collection  of  queer  old  clubs  in  the 
club-house,  to  "  Old  Tom  "  Morris,  the  venerable  and  re- 
vered keeper,  out  on  the  links.  Koyal  blood  has  golfed 
on  its  green,  and  matches  that  Avill  live  longest  in  history 
have  been  won  and  lost  over  its  eighteen  holes.  It  was 
here  that  Allan  Eobertson  some  sixty  years  ago  showed 
the  wonderful  play  that  earned  him  the  right  to  be  con- 
sidered the  most  skilled  of  professionals,  and  gave  him  a 
79  record,  which  remained  unequalled  until  a  few  years 


THE    "SAHARA" 


350  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

ago.  It  Avas  here  that  Robertson,  "  Old  Tom  "  Morris, 
and  the  Parks  and  the  Dunns  decided  many  a  hard- 
fought  match,  and  where  "  Old  Tom  "  learned  the  golf 
that  has  made  him  famous,  and  left  him,  even  now  with 
his  seventy-two  years,  among  the  best  in  the  land. 

Small  wonder  the  memories  are  kept  alive,  for  those 
must  have  been  great  days  along  in  the  middle  of  the 
present  century.  The  professional  golf-player  as  he  exists 
to-day  was  not  known  at  that  time;  and  the  few  like 
those  mentioned  were  constantly  being  matched  against 
one  another  by  the  several  clubs  to  which  they  belonged. 
Allan  Robertson's  79  stood  until  "  Young  Tom  "  Morris, 
who  gave  promise,  had  he  lived  to  fulfil  it,  of  being  a 
more  brilliant  performer  than  even  his  skilled  father, 
made  it  77,  which  continued  the  St.  Andrews'  record  up 
to  October,  1888,  when  the  professional  Hugh  Kirkaldy 
made  it  74,  and  a  year  later  established  the  present  re- 
markable record  of  73,  taking  35  strokes  out,  and  38  on 
the  return. 

Aside  from  Mr.  George  Glennie,  we  do  not  hear  so 
much  of  the  amateurs  of  the  old  days,  and  must  conclude 
that  amateur  golfing  skill  has  increased  a  long  way  be- 
yond what  it  was  even  twenty -five  years  ago,  and  im- 
proved at  a  much  greater  proportion  than  that  of  the 
professional.  Mr.  Glennie  established  a  St.  Andrews  rec- 
ord of  88  in  1855,  and  it  was  not  bettered  until  1881,  when 
Mr.  Horace  G.  Hutchinson  went  the  round  in  87.  It  has 
been  claimed  that  the  links  is  not  so  diificult  by  several 
strokes  as  before  the  present  craze  set  in,  and  true  it  is 
that  the  wearing  down  of  the  whin  has  broadened  the 
course,  and  exacted  less  accuracy  in  placing.  It  is  a  fact, 
too,  that  the  driving,  which  is  a  great  feature  of  to-day's 
game,  is  of  comparatively  modern  development,  the  old 
players  being  celebrated  more  for  skilful  placing  than 


351 


far  driving.  However,  there  is  no  doubt  that  not  only 
has  there  been  an  extraordinary  increase  of  good  scores, 
but  a  widening  of  the  class  that  establish  records.  To 
cite,  for  instance,  simply  those  that  may  be  said  to  com- 
pose the  championship  class,  and  who  have  a  St.  An- 
drews record :  Mr.  H.  G.  Hutchinson,  who  cut  down  Mr. 
Glennie's  88  to  87,  has  gone  the  round  since  then  in  Si ; 
Messrs.  William  Mure,  85  ;  Alexander  Stuart,  83  ;  Leslie 
Melville  Balfour,  85  ;  Ed.  E.  H.  BlackweU,  82 ;  A.  F.  Macfie, 


ST.  GEOr.GE  S    CLUB-HOUSE,  SA.NDWICU 


82;  J.  E.  Laidley,  83;  F.  G.  Tait,  80;  F.  A.  Fairlie,  86; 
and  last  September  ('93)  Mr.  Mure  Fergusson  made  the 
present  record  by  holing  out  in  79.  John  Ball,  Jun., 
Esq.,  has  no  St.  Andrews  record,  but  his  prowess  may  be 
judged  by  his  average  of  83  in  winning  48  scratch  med- 
als. Mr.  II.  Hilton  likewise  has  not  made  a  record  on  the 
Scottish  links,  but  has  done  Hoylake  in  75  and  Sandwich 
in  82.     Probably  the  improvement  in  amateur  form  is 


"  WALKINSHAW  S    GRAVE" 

best  exarapled  by  tlie  statement  that  twenty-five  entries 
returned  scores  of  90  and  under  in  the  championship  of 
1893. 

There  are  many  other  players,  some  of  them  very 
little  inferior,  a  few  of  them  perhaps  as  good  as  those 
here  named,  but  I  have  simply  picked  out  the  best-known 
to  instance  present  skill,  and  made  no  attempt  at  a  grad- 
uated and  authentic  list.  Apropos  of  average  skill,  it  is 
the  popular  conception  that  a  300  or  400  yard  drive  is 
an  every -day  occurrence,  and  like  many  other  popular 
conceptions,  this  one  is  a  fallacy.  On  looking  it  up  care- 
fully, I  found  that  the  average  player  will  loft  his  ball 
from  120  to  140  yards,  a  thoroughly  good  player  from 
HO  to  160,  and  an  exceptional  driver  170  to  180.  Men 
have  driven  farther,  of  course,  but  the  everyday  average 
is  about  what  I  give  it.  70  to  100  yards  represents  the 
average  drive  of  a  good  golfer  of  the  gentle  sex. 

The  delight  of  play  on  the  St.  Andrews  links  is  largely 
due  to  the  golfing  atmosphere  that  here  more  than  any- 


GOLF 


353 


where  else  envelops  3^ou  at  every  turning.  The  town 
seems  almost  to  exist  by  golf  and  for  golf.  The  streets 
are  called  after  the  game,  the  taverns  greet  you  in  its 
name,  every  urchin  on  the  street  appears  to  have  connec- 
tion with  it  one  way  or  another,  and  when  you  play  upon 
the  green,  all  the  world —  all  the  golfing  world,  for  of 
course  you  care  for  no  other — sees  you.  You  follow  the 
white  flags  out  and  the  red  flags  in  over  the  full  eigh- 
teen holes,  with  the  Eden  Eiver  on  one  side  and  the  Ger- 
man Ocean  on  the  other,  to  awaken  you  to  the  beauties 
of  the  old  university  town,  revealing  its  gray  towers  in 
the  background.  You  tread  the  hallowed  ground,  bright- 
ened here  and  there  by  blossoming  whin  or  heather, 
every  moment  a  pleasurable  one ;  and  finally,  when  you 
have  made  the  home  hole,  with  "  Old  Tom  "  Morris  likely 
as  not  officiating  as  high-priest  of  the  ceremony,  3'ou  go 
into  the  handsomest  golf  club-house  in  Great  Britain,  and 
sit  down  before  the  wide  windows  to  Avatch  others  tee 
off,  while  you  devour  a  simple  luncheon  with  more  rel- 
ish than  ever  elaborate  menu  occasioned. 


354  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

Despite  the  widening  of  the  course  and  the  wearing  of 
the  soil,  the  all-round  quality  of  the  links  of  the  Eoyal 
and  Ancient  Golf  Club  of  St.  Andrews  continues  unsur- 
passed, indeed  unequalled.  Westward  Ho  demands  more 
accurate  placing,  Sandwich  mightier  carries,  and  Hoy  lake 
affords  finer  putting-greens,  but  a  round  at  no  one  of 
these  will  give  you  the  golf  to  be  had  at  St.  Andrews. 
Unprejudiced  golfers  (and,  by-the-way,  let  it  be  understood 
that  there  is  a  wide  distinction  drawn  between  the  golfer 
and  the  golf -player)  that  have  played  on  them  all  de- 
clare the  Scottish  links  to  be  the  most  sport-giving.  And 
its  unquestioned  superiority  is  in  the  rare  judgment  with 
which  the  holes  are  placed.  Though  there  are  no  such 
immense  carries  to  make  from  the  tee  as  at  Sandwich, 
one  must  needs  be  a  long  and  skilful  driver,  for  no  "  lev- 
ellers" are  found,  and  poor  drives  do  not  go  unpunished 
at  St.  Andrews.  It  is  a  hard  links  for  the  duffer,  for  the 
distances  are  ideal,  and  whoso  "  foozles  "  suffers  dire  con- 
sequences ;  he  may  not,  as  on  most  other  links,  atone  for 
a  poor  drive  by  an  extra  good  one.  If  two  drives  meas- 
ure the  distance,  it  will  take  two  of  the  best  he  can  make ; 
failing,  he  loses  a  full  stroke. 

The  bunkers,  most  of  them  natural,  but  many  arti- 
ficial, are  sunken,  and  do  not  alwa^^s  show  from  the  tee, 
but  they  are  very  good,  and  well  distributed  about  the 
holes  to  try  the  approaching  golfer's  soul  and  skill,  none 
being  more  famous  anywhere  than  the  suggestively 
named  "  Hell "  and  "  Walkinshaw's  Grave."  All  the  put- 
ting-greens are  good,  but  the  one  at  hole  No.  5  is  notable. 

The  hardness  of  soil  usually  assures  you  a  good  lie, 
unless  you  happen  to  fall  behind  a  brae,  even  at  the 
bottom  of  a  bunker.  Indeed,  this  toughness  has  been 
the  salvation  of  the  links;  otherwise  it  would  have  gone 
the  way  of  the  forsaken  but  always  famous  Musselburgh, 


A.  D.  Hawkins 


THE    "maiden' 


and  been  worn  out  long  ago.  It  is  more  played  upon 
twice  over  than  any  other  in  the  w^orld,  and  in  such  con- 
tinuous demand  that  a  second  course  of  eighteen  holes 
is  being  added.  The  ground  belongs  to  Mr.  Cheape,  of 
Strathlj'run,  although  the  club  has  always  paid  for  keep- 
ing up  the  green.  The  public  has  a  prescriptive  right  of 
golfing  over  it  through  license  by  the  city  of  St.  Andrews 
to  John,  Archbishop  of  St.  Andrews,  dated  1552.  The 
famous  club  prizes  are  the  silver  cross  of  St.  Andrew  and 
the  Bombay  Medal,  played  for  on  the  first  Wednesday  in 
May;  the  Royal  or  King  William  IV.  Medal,  and  Gold 
Medal,  last  Wednesday  in  September;  George  Glennie 
Medal  (lowest  combined  scores  at  the  two  meetings). 
All  these  are  scratch.  The  handicap  events  are  Calcutta 
Cup,  first  week  in  August ;  Queen  Victoria  Jubilee  Vase, 
first  week  in  September. 

These  are  the  times  to  see  St.  Andrews  at  its  best,  the 
black  collared,  brass-buttoned  scarlet  coats  of  the  mem- 


356  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

bers  making  a  brilliant  foreground  against  the  more 
sombre  setting  of  the  mass  that  crowds  as  near  the  holes 
as  their  reverence  will  permit. 

Next  to  St.  Andrews,  I  believe  I  prefer  Westward  Ho, 
of  the  Royal  North  Devon  Club,  though  the  four  best- 
known  courses  are  all  so  good  one's  choice  might  be 
ascribed  to  personal  prejudice.  Westward  Ho  appealed 
to  me,  first,  by  reason  of  its  being  down  in  that  home 
of  sportsmen,  the  Devon  and  Somerset  country;  second, 
by  its  picturesque  surroundings,  resembling  somewhat  in 
its  broken  character  the  North  Berwick  and  Prestwick 
environment;  and  last,  by  the  sport-giving  quality  of  its 
links,  all  of  which  goes  to  prove^  I  suppose,  that  I  am 
not  yet  a  true  golfer.  No  links  in  Great  Britain  requires 
greater  accuracy,  for  the  course  is  covered  with  innumer- 
able rushes,  and  you  must  not  only  drive  in  a  given  direc- 
tion, but  drop  your  ball  almost  at  a  certain  spot.  Really 
the  links  is  ideal,  the  drives  are  magnificent,  the  bunkers 
difficult,  the  putting-greens  large  and  excellent,  and  your 
ball  seems  always  to  be  teed. 

Many  assert  Sandwich,  the  course  of  the  St.  George's 
Club,  to  be  the  most  difficult  one  in  Great  Britain,  a 
claim  that  certainly  impresses  you  on  first  playing  over 
the  links  as  entirel}^  justifiable.  The  surface  of  the 
ground  looks  like  one  vast  irregular  succession  of  con- 
gealed sand  waves,  one  stretch  of  it  being  most  appropri- 
ately called  the  "  Sahara."  There  are  tremendous  carries, 
the  tees  being  so  far  away  from  the  hazards  as  to  re- 
quire a  strong  driver  to  get  his  ball  over  safely ;  the 
sand-hills  are  mountainous,  the  bunkers  formidable,  and 
the  penalties  severe.  The  short  driver  may  circumvent 
some  of  the  terrific  obstacles  through  roundabout  ways, 
but  he  is  never  on  level  terms  with  him  who  can  carry 
them  from  the  tee.    The  greens  are  excellent,  though  not 


GOLF 


357 


equal  to  those  of  St.  Andrews,  Westward  Ho,  or  Hoy- 
lake.  The  Maiden,  a  lofty  sand-hill,  with  a  veritable 
yawning  chasm  for  a  bunker,  is  one  of  the  most  famous 
hazards  in  golfing  Great  Britain,  while  the  fourteenth 
hole,  requiring  three  long  drives,  with  a  hazard  in  each 
one,  is  probably  the  best  of  England. 

Hoy  lake,  where  the  Eoyal  Liverpool  Club  golfs,  is 
famed  for  its  putting-greens,  which  are  the  finest  in  the 
old  country.  The  character  of  the  course  is  fiat,  some- 
what like  St.  Andrews  and  Musselburgh,  and  abounding 


A    VIEW    OF    HOTLAKE 


358  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

in  hedges  that  require  straight  and  accurate  driving,  or 
else  you  pay  dearly.  At  the  same  time  the  penalties  are 
not  so  severe  nor  so  frequent  as  at  St.  Andrews,  Sand- 
wich, or  Westward  Ho.  While  it  does  not  present  the 
difficulties  of  these,  it  is  a  thoroughly  sporting  links,  and 
the  fact  of  its  having  evolved  Messrs.  John  Ball,  Jun., 
and  H.  Hilton,  two  of  the  best  players  of  the  day,  and 
been  once  chosen  as  the  championship  site,  answers  for 
its  merit. 

Musselburgh,  formerly  one  of  the  championship  courses, 
recently  deserted  in  favor  of  Muirfield,  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  celebrated  of  all  Scotland's  links.  It  was  the 
original  home  of  the  Honorable  Company  of  Edinburgh 
Golfers,  next  oldest  club  to  St.  Andrews,  whose  dinner 
matches  have  long  since  become  treasured  history,  and 
whose  quaint  and  venerable  cup,  presented  to  the  club  by 
Thomas  McMillan  in  1774,  is  still  played  for  every  au- 
tumn. On  its  links,  too,  some  of  the  famous  players  of 
to-day  learned  their  first  golf,  and  in  times  gone  by  it  was 
the  scene  of  several  of  the  keenest  contests  between  Allan 
Robertson,  "  Old  Tom  "  Morris,  Park,  Jun.  and  Sen.,  and 
"Old  Man"  and  "Young  Man"  Dunn.  Being  open  to 
the  public,  and  so  near  Edinburgh,  its  popularity  has  been 
its  downfall ;  its  whins  are  literally  trodden  out  of  sight, 
and  though  its  nine  holes  still  call  for  fine  golfing,  and  its 
bunkers  are  good,  as  those  that  have  run  foul  of  "  Pande- 
monium "  and  "  Lord  Shands "  will  testify,  yet  it  has 
fallen  below  the  distinction  of  a  championship  links. 

Muirfield,  despite  its  good  greens,  seems  tame  beside 
the  old  course,  and  its  eighteen  holes  fail  of  giving  so 
much  sport  as  Musselburgh's  nine. 

Prestwick,  on  the  west  of  Scotland,  fortunately  for  its 
preservation,  for  it  would  never  stand  the  wear  and  tear 
of  publicity,  is  a  private  club  course,  with  soil  of  a  sandy 


ROYAL    LIVERPOOL    CLUB-HOUSE,   HOYLAKE 

nature  covered  by  turf,  very  much  like  our  Shinuecock 
Hills  on  Long  Island,  and  much  softer  than  St.  Andrews. 
The  character  of  the  ground  is  undulating,  with  regions  of 
sand-hills,  the  most  formidable  being  called  the  Himalayas, 
which  runs  between  two  fairly  level  fields,  and  calls  for  a 
tremendous  drive.  The  bunkers  are  difficult,  but  the  most 
famous  is  the  Cardinal's  Nob,  which  is  stiff  and  steep, 
coming  in  your  second  shot  instead  of  from  the  tee,  and 
is  said  to  have  buried  more  ambitions  than  any  other 
bunker  in  Scotland  or  England.  The  putting-greens  are 
all  in  hollows  between  sand-hills,  and  British  dignity  is 
sorely  taxed  to  keep  from  incontinently  rushing  up  one 
side  of  the  elevation  to  see  how  near  the  hole  the  ball  has 
rolled  on  the  other  side. 

North  Berwick,  although  short,  is  another  of  Scotland's 
famous  links.  There  are  eighteen  holes,  small  ones,  but 
no  eighteen  in  Christendom  are  so  filled  with  hazards  of 
every  description — stone  walls,  gardens,  woods,  and  culti- 


360  A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 

vated  fields.  It  is  a  fine  school  for  learning  to  approach  ; 
you  have  small  need  for  a  driver.  The  putting-greens  are 
excellent,  and  though  they  are  generally  blocked,  the  links 
furnishes  the  best  of  sport,  and  the  neighborhood  the  most 
pleasing  of  scenery.  What  more  can  any  man  want  ? 
Good  sport  to  stir  his  blood,  and  nature's  loveliness  to 
soothe  him  into  forgetfulness  of  the  world  with  its  vani- 
ties and  deceits. 

You  hardly  wonder  that  golf  did  not  make  its  way  in 
England  from  the  Blackheath  links  once  you  have  been 
there,  for  although  the  oldest,  it  is  among  the  poorest,  and 
no  one  should  think  of  a  visit  unless  attracted,  as  I  was, 
by  the  antiquity  of  the  club. 

It  is  the  only  course  I  heard  of  where  a  fore  caddie  is 
used ;  but  here  he  really  is  needed,  for  one  of  the  seven 
holes  is  so  long  that  it  requires  three  big  drives  and  the 
caddie's  red  flag  to  reach  it.  The  soil  is  very  hard,  the 
lies  not  good,  and  the  hazards  few  and  not  difficult.  It 
seemed  to  me,  on  the  day  of  my  visit,  they  consisted 
chiefly  of  nurse-maids  and  bench  seats. 

I  have  commented  on  those  links  only  that  are  world- 
renowned  ;  that  there  are  many  excellent  and  sporting 
ones  besides  may  be  imagined.  Great  Yarmouth,  for  in- 
stance, is  a  full  eighteen-hole  course  with  a  fine  sandy  turf, 
stiff  bunkers,  level  putting-greens,  and  requires  good  golf ; 
then  there  are  excellent  links  at  Little  Stone,  Felixstow, 
Dornoch,  Montrose,  and  Carnoustie,  the  last  being  espe- 
cially good,  and  Brancaster,  one  of  the  newest,  and  said  to 
be  one  of  the  finest  natural  courses  in  Great  Britain.  Of 
the  many  about  London,  Wimbledon  probably  ranks  first 
(though  Eanelagh,  with  its  two  ponds  and  better  putting- 
greens,  yields  good  sport),  has  good  hazards,  some  whins 
left,  a  pond,  uneven  greens,  and  gives  the  best  golf  near 
the  city. 


GOLF  361 

Ireland  and  "Wales  both  have  their  clubs,  and  in  the 
former,  Portrush,  where  the  Irish  championship  is  held, 
has  links  \vith  sand-hills,  good  though  somewhat  heavy 
greens,  and  one  big  drive  over  a  flower-lined  ravine. 

xlcross  the  Channel,  in  France,  Pau  boasts  the  oldest 
club  in  the  Old  World  next  to  Blackheath,  though  the 
course  is  a  tame  one.  Biarritz,  on  the  coast,  has  a  links 
better  adapted  to  the  sport,  and  though  its  greens  are  not 


# 


-flHflR 


nOYLAKE    PCTTING-GREEN 


SO  good  as  those  at  Pau,  and  the  holes  shorter,  the  penal- 
ties are  more  frequent  and  severe. 

That  the  game  has  history  and  literature  to  no  end  has 
been  evidenced  by  the  abundant  articles,  descriptive  and 
educational,  that  have  been  finding  their  way  into  maga- 
zines smce  the  golfing  wave  swept  over  the  country. 
When  I  set  out  on  my  pilgrimage  to  St.  Andrews,  the 
Mecca  of  all  golfing  enthusiasts,  I  determined  to  supple- 


362  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

ment  my  impressions  by  a  bit  of  early  history,  but  when 
I  looked  upon,  those  antique  clubs  in  the  home  of  the 
ancient  and  royal  organization,  relics  of  a  game  which 
existed  before  sporting  history  began,  I  decided  to  delay 
the  task. 

What  I  have  endeavored  to  show  here  is  the  breadth 
and  depth  of  the  spirit  which  has  made  the  golfing  widow 
an  accepted  national  institution,  seized  the  usually  serene 
Briton  by  the  ears,  and  set  him  putting  into  tumblers  and 
whisking  off  the  heads  of  daisies  overnight,  that  in  the 
morrow's  play  his  aim  may  be  the  truer  and  his  swing  the 
deadlier. 


XV 
A  BIT  OF  HISTORY 

In  the  several  papers  I  liave  prepared  as  a  result  of  my 
studies  in  English  sport,  I  have  thought  it  advisable  to 
incorporate  something  of  the  early  history  of  each ;  but 
I  throw  down  the  historian's  pen  instantly  on  touching 
golf.  It  already  has  too  many  chroniclers.  If  one  really 
wants  a  history  of  the  ancient  and  royal  game,  I  advise 
the  purchase  of  Clark's  volume,  published  in  Edinburgh 
in  1875.  It  is  complete,  authentic,  and  the  task  was  en- 
tered upon  by  the  author  con  amove. 

It  has  often  been  said  there  is  nothing  new  under  the 
sun,  and  the  revival  of  golf,  which  is  flourishing  with  all 
the  vigor  of  an  entirely  new  game,  fortifies  the  old  saw. 
Curious  it  is,  indeed,  that  golf,  dating  back  into  the  shad- 
owy past,  should  lie  dormant  for  generations,  suddenly 
to  spring  into  new  and  enthusiastic  life.  Like  hunting, 
its  early  history  is  scrappy  and  incomplete,  but  enough 
of  the  scraps  have  been  gathered  to  fill  chapter  after 
chapter,  and  surely  abundant  proof  of  the  historian's  per- 
sistency has  been  given  the  public  without  ray  mite; 
therefore  I  shall  touch  the  subject,  if  onlj^  to  be  consist- 
ent with  my  original  purpose,  but  touch  it  gentl3^ 

Some  claim  German  origin  for  the  game,  the  word 
"  golf  "  being  akin  to  "  kolbe  "  (club) ;  again,  "  kulban  "  is 
Gothic  for  a  stick  with  a  thick  knob ;  yet,  further,  the 
Dutch  game  "kolf  "  is  dragged  in  as  a  prototype,  which, 
however,  is  declared  by  those  who  delight  in  musty  research 


364  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

to  have  borne  no  resemblance  to  golf  of  to-day,  though 
being  unquestionably  analogous.  One  might  with  truth, 
indeed,  say  that  much  of  all  games  in  which  a  ball  and 
club  figure.  Chole,  still  played  in  northern  France,  and 
a  game  of  undoubted  antiquity  on  the  Continent,  is  also 
cited  as  a  possible  progenitor.  It  appears,  however,  to 
have  been  more  of  the  type  of  American  shinny  or  Eng- 
lish hockey  than  golf,  apparently  having  consisted  merely 
of  a  wooden  ball  struck  by  a  club,  as  in  these  modern 
survivors.  None  of  the  earlier  manuscripts — and  some 
go  back  to  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century — allude 
to  the  putting  of  the  ball  into  holes. 

In  fact,  the  chole  of  to-day,  like  the  earliest  form  of  foot- 
ball, is  played  by  sides,  comprising  as  many  as  may  be  on 
hand  to  participate,  without  regard  to  numbers ;  and  the 
play  consists  of  batting  the  ball  to  a  given  mark,  as  Avas 
the  idea  in  the  very  first  football  struggles— either  a  tree, 
house,  or  other  goal,  some  distance  away. 

Dutch  tiles  record  the  story  of  a  sort  of  golf  on  ice 
about  the  seventeenth  century;  and  the  ancient  jeu-de- 
mail  commands  some  consideration  among  the  list  of 
golfing  forefathers,  because  it  is  played  by  a  boxwood  ball 
— said  to  be  batted  to  extraordinary  distances — and  a  club 
somewhat  of  a  compromise  between  a  croquet  and  polo 
mallet,  but  chiefly  because  the  position  and  swing  are 
similar  to  those  which  obtain  in  golf. 

There  seems,  indeed,  to  be  no  end  to  the  reported 
sources  from  which  golf  is  said  to  have  sprung,  the  most 
ingenious  and  amusing  being  that  of  Sir  W.  G.  Simpson, 
whose  Art  of  Golf  is  worth  buying,  if  for  no  other  rea- 
son than  to  read  his  chapter  on  the  origin  of  the  game. 
The  attempt  to  trace  golf  through  the  derivation  of  its 
name  has  been  made  over  and  over  again — ad  infinitum  ; 
and  I  for  one  leave  the  task  with  great  pleasure  to  the 


A  BIT  OF   HISTORY 


365 


philologists,  to  whom  such  delving  properly  belongs.  It 
is  enough  for  us  to  know  that  the  similarity  in  origin 
which  must  always  exist,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  be- 
tween games  that  are  variations  of  balls  to  be  batted, 
and  clubs  with  which  the  batting  is  done,  has  furnished 
no  end  of  material  for  argument  and  groundwork  on  which 
to  build  almost  to  suit  the  fancy  of  the  architect. 

En  passant,  I  will  venture  to  say  one  can  take  up  any 
game  of  the  present  day  in  which  a  ball  and  bat  (of  vary- 
ing form  and  size)  are  the  essential  features,  and  trace  it, 


MODERN   GOLF   CLUBS 


2.  Mashic.        3.  Brassy.        4.  Putter. 
C.  Lofter.        7.  Iron. 


366  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

by  logical  argument,  to  a  common  source.  The  early — i.e., 
the  primitive — history  of  nearly  all  such  games  is  lost  in 
the  shrouded  past,  and  some  study,  a  little  skill  with  the 
pen,  and  a  vivid  imagination  paints  many  pictures  that 
would  likely  as  not  fail  of  recognition  in  the  days  they 
portrayed.  Every  last  one  of  us  might  Avrite  a  history  of 
golf  before  the  fifteenth  century  ;  and  who  could  question 
its  authenticity  ? 

Probably  the  original  home  of  golf  will  never  be  settled 
upon ;  but  certainly  in  James  YI.'s  reign  Holland  furnished 
the  Scotch  with  their  balls  until  a  prohibitive  tariff  made 
them  too  expensive.  Moreover,  there  is  an  old  Flanders 
club  in  the  Eoyal  Wimbledon  Golf  Club-house,  which  is  a 
very  curious  affair  in  its  way,  and  looks  for  all  the  world 
like  a  hockey-club.  Indeed,  all  my  research  into  its  his- 
tory has  led  me  to  believe  that  the  first  golf  was  more 
like  hockey  than  any  other  game,  and  it  is  very  probable 
that  both  came  from  that  good  old  -  fashioned  unpreten- 
tious sport  called  shinny  in  the  United  States.  There 
seems  always  to  be  a  striving  after  originals,  and  I  am 
satisfied  much  time  and  paper  has  been  wasted  in  quest  of 
the  golf  prototype.  There  is  no  question  whatever  that 
the  game  was  played  in  very  early  times — Biblical  times,  if 
you  like ;  for  may  not  David's  strength  of  arm  and  ac- 
curacy of  eye  with  the  sling  have  been  acquired  by  driv- 
ing off  the  tee  and  holing  out  on.  the  green  ? 

Golf  was  undeniably  a  game  of  the  people  about  the 
middle  of  the  fifteenth  century,  and  by  the  last  of  the  six- 
teenth had  grown  so  popular  that  the  Edinburgh  City 
Council  forbade  Sunday  playing,  and  it  was  periodically 
frowned  upon  by  the  Crown,  though  never  proscribed  so 
thoroughly  as  football  in  its  early  days.  When  the 
Stuarts  ascended  the  throne  the  restrictions  of  Sunday 
playing  were  modified  to  permit  of  games  after  church 


A   BIT   OF   HISTORY 


367 


service ;  but  mandates  of  this  royal  family  were  not  rel- 
ished by  Scotchmen,  and  the  privilege  was  not  taken  ad- 
vantage of  to  any  noticeable  extent. 

But  the  game  at  this  time,  nevertheless,  was  being 
played  by  the  gentry  and  even  by  royalty.  Clubs  cost 
one  shilling  apiece,  and  balls,  which,  by-the-way,  were 
stuffed  with  feathers  (pressed  in  so  tightly  that,  it  is 
recorded,  the  contents  of  one  would  fill  a  hat),  nine 
shillings  a  dozen.  The  gutta-percha  balls  of  to-day  did 
not  come  in  until  1848.  The  game  must  have  been  mak- 
ing great  strides ;  for  James  VI.,  in  1603,  found  it  de- 


HOLDING   CLUB — CORRECT    POSITION 


sirable  to  appoint  a  royal  club-maker,  and  fifteen  years 
later  a  royal  ball-maker ;  for  which  distinction  players 
paid  the  usual  penalty  of  fashion  by  giving  four  shillings 
apiece  for  balls  instead  of  nine  shillings  a  dozen.  There 
has  been  no  especial  evolution  in  golfing  implements: 
balls  and  clubs  are  about  the  same  as  at  first,  except  as 
to  material ;  the  clubs  are  lighter,  but  practically  not 
changed  in  shape. 

Golfing  historians  delight  in  attaching  different  epochs 
of  their  game  to  royal  personages ;  and  thus  we  are  told 


368  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

Charles  I.  received  news  of  the  Irish  rebellion  while  at 
play  on  the  Leith  Links,  the  most  celebrated  ones  of  that 
day ;  that  Prince  Charles  introduced  golf  into  history  in 
1738 ;  and  that  it  was  during  James  II.'s  reign  a  "  fore- 
caddie  "  (to  run  ahead  and  mark  where  the  balls  landed) 
became  an  institution. 

The  first  record  of  a  trophy  being  given  is  in  the  early 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  the  Edinburgh  Coun- 
cil directed  its  treasurer  to  offer  a  silver  cup,  valued  at  fif- 
teen pounds,  to  be  played  for  annually,  the  victor  being 
styled  "  Captain  of  the  Goff  "  and  "  that  he  append  a  piece 
of  gold  or  silver  to  the  club,  and  have  sole  disposal  of  the 
booking  money  (entrance  fees),  at  five  shillings  a  head, 
the  settlement  of  disputes,  and  the  superintendency  of  the 
links."  It  is  noteworthy  that  while  it  may  not  have  taken 
an  exceptional  man  to  win  the  club,  it  must  have  required 
an  unusual  one  to  fulfil  all  the  requirements  of  the  cap- 
taincy. 

Heaven  only  knows  when  golf  was  first  played  in  Scot- 
land; but  St.  Andrews,  founded  in  1754,  has  the  undis- 
puted honor  of  age  among  clubs,  though  in  point  of  fact 
the  Royal  Blackheath  Club,  in  England,  dates  as  far  back 
as  1608,  and  was  undoubtedly  instituted  by  the  Scottish 
court  during  its  sojourn  in  that  neighborhood.  It  was 
during  James  YI.'s  reign  known  as  the  Knuckle  Club,  a 
name  it  retained  until  1822,  when  the  present  one  was 
adopted. 

The  Honorable  Company  of  Edinburgh  Golfers,  estab- 
lished in  177-1,  with  links  at  Musselburgh,  was  most  ac- 
tive in  popularizing  the  game,  presenting  school-boys  with 
golf  balls,  and  offering  a  "creel  and  shawl"  to  the  best 
golfer  of  the  fishermen's  wives.  The  Edinburgh  Burgess 
Golfing  Society  dates  from  1735,  but  the  efforts  of  its 
members  were  more  convivial  than  sporting. 


A   BIT   OF  HISTORY  869 

It  is  at  about  this  time,  shortly  after  the  foundation  of 
St.  Andrews  and  Musselburgh,  that  we  find  the  choicest 
bits  of  golfing  literature,  and  these  must  have  been  the 
halcyon  days  of  the  old  times.  There  was  not  that  so- 
lemnity nor  importance  attached  to  play  as  to-day,  and 
from  all  accounts  the  old  fellows  appear  to  have  possessed 
a  joyous  golfing  spirit  that  made  a  match  the  occasion  for 
an  outing,  and  the  day's  sport  an  excuse  for  a  niglit  of 
good  cheer.  But  there  was,  none  the  less,  form  on  the 
links,  swallow-tail  coats,  knee-breeches,  and  tall  hats 
being  the  vogue ;  the  feather  balls  and  play  must  have 
been  far  better  than  one  would  suppose,  and  the  links 
harder  than  they  are  now,  for  100  to  105  was  the  average 
winning  score. 

As  usual,  great  tales  come  to  us  of  the  prowess  of  these 
players  of  the  early  days.  It  is  altogether  probable  that 
the  links  were  more  difficult  than  now,  since  the  whin 
has  been  worn  away  and  the  course  widened,  and  some 
of  the  names  given  hazards,  like  Pandemonium  (at  Mus- 
selburgh) and  Hell  (at  St.  Andrews)  substantiate  the 
supposition.  Unquestionably,  more  exact  playing  was 
required  for  a  good  score,  and  the  narrower  courses  ne- 
cessitated precise  driving.  The  length,  of  drive  seems  not 
to  have  been  considered  of  such  importance,  placing  be- 
ing regarded  the  greater  art ;  but  the  lies  must  have  been 
better  because  the  grounds  were  less  worn. 

It  is  true,  however,  that  both  amateur  and  professional 
playing  is  at  a  much  higher,  standard  to-day  than  ever 
it  was ;  and  while  we  are  prone  to  exalt  the  skill  of  our 
younger  days,  and  thus  in  history  to  credit  the  pioneers 
with  exceptional  powers,  it  is  an  undoubted  fact  that  the 
general  average  of  to-day  is  beyond  what  it  was  in  those 
days  of  which  we  have  been  speaking.  A  few  prominent 
names  are  chosen,  whose  prowess  is  enlarged  upon  regard- 

24 


370 


A   SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 


m 


* 


less  of  their  being  exceptions ;  of  the  general  players 
we  hear  nothing ;  while  to-day,  on  the  other  side,  there 
is  quite  a  large  class  not  very  far  from  the  exceptional. 

The  Scotchman  had  always 
played    the   game    he    fondly 
fancies  found  its  origin  on  his 
native  heath  ;  there  was  none 
of    that    overwhelming    and 
popularizing  wave  which  has 
spread    over    the    country  in 
the  last  dozen  years; 
it  went  its  way  stead- 
ily  and   methodically, 
from  the  very  day  the 
St.  Andrews  club   be- 
came a  reality. 

Blackheath  survived 
the  Scottish  kings,  but 
Englishmen  seem  to 
have  ignored  the  game 
altogether,  and  there 
was  scarcely  any  golf- 
ing until  Westward 
Ho  (the  Royal  North  Devon  Golf  Club),  located  in  one 
of  the  most  picturesque  and  sporting  sections  of  Great 
Britain,  took  it  up  in  1864.  "Wimbledon  was  founded  in 
the  following  year,  and  the  lloylake  links,  of  the  Royal 
Liverpool  Golf  Club,  laid  out  in  1869.  AVimbledon  added 
a  woman's  course  to  its  links  in  1872,  and  thereby  was  the 
first  to  recognize  the  gentle  sex  in  golf. 

Even  so,  golf  was  not  booming;  it  was  making  its  way 
only  slowly.  For  at  this  time  (say,  in  1870)  there  Avere 
something  like  fifty  clubs  in  Great  Britain,  and  most  of 
those  in  Scotland  were  very  old,  the  little  stir  in  England 


BACK    VIEW BEGINNING    OP   FULL    SWING 

FOR  DRIVING — INCORRECT  POSITION 


A  BIT   OF   HISTORY 


371 


f 


having  had  no  effect  whatever  towards  making  new  clubs 
across  the  Tweed.  In  1880  this  number  had  increased 
about  twenty  per  cent,  in  England,  but  the  great  boom 
that  set  in  along  about  1886-88  multiplied  clubs  at  an 
astonishing  rate;  at  the  time  of  my  visit  (February,  1894) 
there  were  about  seven  hundred  and  ninety-two  in  Great 
Britain,  seventy-two  of  these  being  in  Edinburgh  alone, 
where  nearly  every  mercantile  house  has  a  club  formed 
of  its  emplo3^es. 

It  was,  therefore,  from  about  1885  to  1890  that  English- 
men suddenly  awakened  to  the  game  they  had  ignored, 
and  in  quite  an  un- 
English-like  manner 
took  to.  it  with  a 
rush.  Existing  clubs 
were  rapidly  filled, 
professional  ones 
grew  in  demand, 
club  manufacturers 
sprang  up,  and  golf 
links  and  clubs  were 
started  in  every  di- 
rection. 

It  was  not  long 
after  golf  began  to 
take  in  England  un- 
til the  desirability 
of  handicaps  be- 
came apparent,  and 
were  speedily  intro- 
duced, much  to  the 

disgust  of  the  Scotch  golfer.  For  a  long  time  such  tour- 
naments were  scorned  in  the  home  of  the  ancient  game ; 
only  recently  have  they  been   admitted,  and  even  yet, 


BACK   VIEW — BEGINNING    OF  FULL    SWING    FOR 
DRIVING — CORRECT    POSITION 


372 


A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 


every  now  and  again,  there  is  an  outcry  against  them. 
There  is  no  question  that,  for  the  large  class  of  average 
players,  they  seem  to  have  a  mission,  and  to  fill  it  well. 
All  cannot  be  in  the  first  class,  and  there  must  be  some 

equalizer  to    create   the 

(rivalry  that  makes  inter- 
est and  increases  the 
number  of  players. 

Women  are  a  very 
large  factor  in  golf  in 
the  old  country.  Besides 
having  their  own  clubs, 
they  are  admitted  to 
membership  in  a  large 
percentage  of  those 
which  were  once  mo- 
nopolized by  the  sterner 
sex,  and  which  now,  in 
^^  "^H         nearly  every  instance, 

^^  <.^bI         maintain    a    separate 

course  for  their  exclusive 
use.  A  woman's  cham- 
pionship was  established 
in  1893,  played  at  Lytham,  St,  Anne's,  and  won  by  Lady 
Margaret  Scott,  whose  form  is  excellent,  and  whose  qual- 
ity of  play  may  be  judged  from  her  having  holed  the  full 
Westward  IIo  course  in  96  strokes. 

The  first  championship  in  Great  Britain  was  held  by 
the  Prestwick  Golf  Club,  which  ofl'ered  a  belt  in  1860  that 
had  to  be  Avon  three  times  in  succession  before  becoming 
personal  property.  After  ten  years'  competition,  it  was 
finally  captured,  in  1870,  by  Tom  Morris,  Jr.,  son  of  the 
famous  father  who  had  himself  won  it  four  times,  and 
who  is  to-day  the  revered  care-taker  of  St.  Andrews  green. 


FRONT  VIEW BEGINNING  OF  FULL  SWING 

FOR    DRITIXG — INCORRECT    POSITION 


A  BIT  OF   HISTORY 


373 


WINNERS  OP  OPEN  CHAMPIONSHIP  BELT 

Year. 

Winner. 

Club. 

Scor^. 

Where  played. 

1860 
1801 
1802 
1863 
1804 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1S68 
1809 
1870 

Willie  Park 

Tom  Morris,  Sr 

Tom  Morris,  Sr 

Willie  Park 

Musselburgh 

Prestwick 

Prestwick 

Musselburgh 

Piestwick 

St.  Andrews 

Musselbui'irh . 

174 
163 
163 
103 
160 
162 
169 
170 
154 
157 
149 

Prestwick. 
Prestwick. 
Prestwick. 
Prestwick. 
Prestwick. 
Prestwick. 
Prestwick. 
Prestwick. 
Prestwick. 
Prestwick. 
Prestwick. 

Tom  Morris,  Sr 

A.  Strath 

Willie  Park 

Tom  Morris,  Sr 

T..m  M<,rris,Jr 

Tom  Morris,  ,Ir 

Tom  Morris,  Jr 

St.  Andrews 

St.  Andrews 

There  was  no  championship  in  1871,  but  in  1872  the  St. 
Andrews  Honorable  Company  of  Edinburgh  Golfers  and 
the  Prestwick  Club  offered  a  championship  cup  worth 
one    hundred 
pounds  to  re- 
place  the  belt, 
and   to    be    a 
perpetual  chal- 
lenge   trophy 
played  for  at 
the  respective 
grounds  of  the 
three      clubs, 
open    to    both 
amateurs  and  professionals, 
as  had  been  the  belt,  the 
winner  to   be   determined 
by    a   score   of    36    holes. 
Only  two  amateurs  have 
been   successful,  namely, 
Mr.  John  Ball  and  Mr.  H. 
H.   Hilton,  both   English- 
men ;   and  Mr.  Ball  bears 

the  additional  honor  of  having  won  the  amateur  cham- 
pionship four  times.  In  the  open  championship,  money  is 
given  winning  professionals,  and  medals  to  the  amateurs. 


FRONT  VIEW BEGINNING  OK  KUI.L  SWINU 

FOR    DRIVING — CORRECT    POSITION 


374 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


WINNERS  OF  OPEN  CHAMPIONSHIP  CUP 


Year. 

Winner. 

Club. 

Score. 

Where  played. 

1S72 
1S73 
1874 
1875 
187G 
1S77 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1SS1 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 

1887 
ISSS 
1889 
1S90 
1S91 
1892 
1893 
1894 

Tom  Morris,  Jr 

Tom  Kidd 

St  Andrews 

166 

179 
159 
166 
170 
160 
157 
170 
162 
170 
171 
159 
160 
171 
157 
161 
171 
155 
164 
166 
305 
322 
326 

Prestwick. 

St.  Andrews. 

Musselburgh. 

Prestwick. 

St.  Andrews. 

Musselburgh. 

Prestwick. 

St.  Andrews. 

Musselburgh. 

Prestwick. 

St.  Andrews. 

Musselburgh. 

Prestwick. 

St.  Andrews. 

Musselburgh. 

Prestwick. 

St.  Andrews. 

Musselburgh. 

Prestwick. 

St.  Andrews. 

Muirfield. 

Prestwick. 

Sandwich. 

Mungo  Park 

Bob  Martin 

St.  Andrews 

Jamie  Ander.son 

St.  Andrews 

Musselburgh 

Musselburgh 

Musselburgh 

Dumfries 

Carnoustie 

Bob  Fergusson 

Bob  Fergusson 

Bob  Fergusson 

BobMartiu 

D.  Brown 

Willie  Park,  Jr 

Musselburgh 

Musselburgh 

Warwick 

Musselburgh 

Hoylake 

John  Ball.Jr 

H.  H.  Hiltont 

William  Auchterlonie 

Hoylake 

St  Audrews. . 

After  tie  with  Bob  Fergusson.  t- After  tie  with  Andrew  Kirkaldy. 

t  Course  increased  from  2  rounds  of  18  holes  to  4  rounds,  or  72  holes. 


AMATEUR  CHAMPIONSHIP 

The  Royal  Liverpool  Club,  held  the  first  amateur  tournament  in  1885  on  its  links  at 
Hoylake,  following  which  the  clubs  of  England  and  Scotland  united  in  giving  a  chal- 
lenge cup  for  annual  play  under  tournament  conditions. 


Year. 

Winner. 

Where  played. 

1887 

St.  Andrews. 
Hoylake. 

1SS8 

John  Ball,  Jr. 

Prestwick. 

J.  E.  Lailay 

St.  Andrews. 

1890 

John  Ball,  Jr 

Hoylake. 

1891 

J.  E.  Laidley 

John  Ball,  Jr 

St.  Audrews. 

Sandwich. 

1893 

P.  C.  Anderson 

Prestwick. 

1894 

John  Ball,  Jr 

Hoylake. 

LEADING  BRITISH  CLUBS 


Established 

Royal  Blackheath  Golf  Club 1608 

Edinburgh  Burgess  Golfing  Society...  1735 
Hon.  Company  of  Edinburgh  Golfers.  1744 

St.  Andrews 1754 

Bruntsfield  Links  Golf  Club 1761 

Royal  Musselburgh  Golf  Club 1774 

Crail  Golfing  Society 1786 

Royal  Albert  Golf  Club 1810 

A berdeen  Club 1815 

Old  Manchester  Golf  Club 1818 

Innerleven  Golf  Club 1820 

Royal  Perth  Golf  Society  and  County 

and  City  Club 1824 

Calcutta  Golf  Club 1829 

Montrose  Academy  Golf  Club 1832 

North  Berwick  Golf  Club 1832 

Carnoustie  and  Taymouth 1839 

Royal  Bombiiv  Gymkhana  Golf  Club. .  1842 

Panmure  Golf  Club 1845 

Seven-Thistle  Golf  Club 1846 

Lanark  Golf  Club 1851 


Establisheil 

Prestwick  Golf  Club 1851 

Prestwick  St.  Nicholas  Golf  Club 1851 

Tantallon  Golf  Club 1853 

Cupar  Golf  Club 1855 

Dunbar  Golf  Club 18.56 

Bruntsfield  Allied  Golf  Club 1856 

Pau  GolfClub 18.^6 

Earlsberry  and  Elie  Golf  Club 1858 

Warrender  Golf  Club 186S 

King  James  VI.  GolfClub 1859 

Royal  North  Devon  Golf  Club,  West- 
ward IIo 1864 

London  Scottish  Golf  Club 1865 

Koyid  Wimbledon  Golf  Clnb 1865 

Royal  Liverpool  GolfClub 1869 

Montreal 1873 

Great  Yarmouth  Golf  Club 1882 

Portobello  Golf  Club— instituted  1856 

—resuscitated 1883 

St.  George's  Golf  Club,  Sandwich 1887 

Rauelagh  Golf  Club 1890 


A  BIT  OF  HISTORY  375 


LEADING  CLUBS  IN  UNITED  STATES 


Kstublished 

St.  Andrews,  Yonkere ISSS 

Shiunecock  Hills  Golf  Club 1890 

Brookliue  (Boston) 1892 

Newport 1892-3 


Established 

Tuxedo 1893 

Essex  (Mass.) 1893 

Chicago 1893^ 


RULES    FOR   THE    GAME 

1.  The  game  of  Golf  is  played  by  two  or  more  sides,  each  playing  its 
own  ball.     A  side  may  consist  of  one  or  more  persons. 

3.  The  game  consists  in  each  side  playing  a  ball  from  a  tee  into  a 
hole  by  successive  strokes,  and  the  hole  is  won  by  the  side  holing  its 
ball  in  the  fewest  strokes,  except  as  otherwise  provided  for  in  the  rules. 
If  two  sides  hole  out  in  the  same  number  of  strokes,  the  hole  is  halved. 

3.  The  teeing  ground  shall  be  indicated  by  two  marks  placed  in  a  line 
at  right  angles  to  the  course,  and  the  player  shall  not  tee  in  front  of,  nor 
on  either  side  of,  these  marks,  nor  more  than  two  club  lengths  behind 
them.  A  ball  played  from  outside  the  limits  of  the  teeing  ground, 
as  thus  defined,  may  be  recalled  by  the  opposite  side. 

The  hole  shall  be  4|  inches  in  diameter,  and  at  least  4  inches  deep. 

4.  The  ball  must  be  fairly  struck  at,  and  not  pushed,  scraped,  or 
spooned,  under  penalty  of  the  loss  of  the  hole.  Any  movement  of  the 
club  which  is  intended  to  strike  the  ball  is  a  stroke. 

5.  The  game  commences  by  each  side  playing  a  ball  from  the  first 
teeing  ground.  In  a  match  with  two  or  more  on  a  side,  the  partners 
shall  strike  off  alternately  from  the  tees,  and  shall  strike  alternately 
during  the  play  of  the  hole. 

The  players  who  are  to  strike  against  each  other  shall  be  named  at 
starting,  and  shall  continue  in  the  same  order  during  the  match. 

The  player  who  shall  play  first  on  each  side  shall  be  named  by  his 
own  side. 

In  case  of  failure  to  agree,  it  shall  be  settled  by  lot  or  toss  which  side 
shall  have  the  option  of  leading. 

6.  If  a  player  shall  play  when  his  partner  should  have  done  so,  his 
side  shall  lose  the  hole,  except  in  the  case  of  the  tee  shot,  when  the  stroke 
may  be  recalled  at  the  option  of  the  opponents. 

7.  The  side  winning  a  hole  shall  lead  in  starting  for  the  next  hole, 
and  may  recall  the  opponent's  stroke  should  he  play  out  of  order.  This 
privilege  is  called  the  "honor."  On  starting  for  a  new  match,  the 
winner  of  the  long  match  in  the  previous  round  is  entitled  to  the 
"honor."  Should  the  first  match  ha^ve  been  halved,  the  winner  of  the 
last  hole  gained  is  entitled  to  the  "honor." 

8.  One  round  of  the  Links— generally  18  holes — is  a  match,  unless 
otherwise  agreed  upon.  The  match  is  won  by  the  side  which  gets  more 
holes  ahead  than  there  remain  holes  to  be  played,  or  by  the  side  winning 
the  last  hole  when  the  match  was  all  even  at  the  second  last  hole.  If 
both  sides  have  won  the  same  number,  it  is  a  halved  match. 

9.  After  the  balls  are  struck  from  the  tee,  the  ball  farthest  from  the 
hole  to  which  the  parties  are  playing  shall  be  played  first,  except  as  oth- 


376  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

erwise  provided  for  in  the  rules.     Should  the  wrong  side  play  first,  the 
opponent  may  recall  the  stroke  before  his  side  has  plaj^ed. 

10.  Unless  with  the  opponent's  consent,  a  ball  struck  from  the  tee 
shall  not  be  changed,  touched,  or  moved  before  the  hole  is  played  out, 
under  the  penalty  of  one  stroke,  except  as  otherwise  provided  for  in  the 
rules. 

11.  In  playing  through  the  green,  all  loose  impediments,  within  a  club 
length  of  a  ball  which  is  not  lying  in  or  touching  a  hazard,  may  be 
removed,  but  loose  impediments  which  are  more  than  a  club  length  from 
the  ball  shall  not  be  removed  under  the  penalty  of  one  stroke. 

13.  Before  striking  at  the  ball,  the  player  shall  not  move,  bend,  or 
break  anything  fixed  or  growing  near  the  ball,  except  in  the  act  of  plac- 
ing his  feet  on  the  ground  for  the  purpose  of  addressing  the  ball,  and  in 
soliug  his  club  to  address  the  ball,  under  the  penalty  of  the  loss  of  the 
hole,  except  as  provided  for  in  Rule  18. 

13.  A  ball  stuck  fast  in  wet  ground  or  sand  may  be  taken  out  and 
replaced  loosely  in  the  hole  which  it  has  made. 

14.  When  a  ball  lies  in  or  touches  a  hazard,  the  club  shall  not  touch 
the  ground,  nor  shall  anything  be  touched'  or  moved  before  the  player 
strikes  at  the  ball,  except  that  tlie  player  may  place  his  feet  firmly  on 
the  ground  for  the  purpose  of  addressing  the  ball,  under  the  penalty  of 
the  loss  of  the  hole. 

15.  A  "  hazard  "  shall  be  any  bunker  of  whatever  nature — water,  sand, 
loose  eartli,  mole-hills,  paths,  roads  or  railways,  whins,  bushes,  rushes, 
rabbit  scrapes,  fences,  ditches,  or  anything  which  is  not  the  ordinary 
green  of  the  course,  except  sand  blown  on  to  the  grass  by  wind,  or 
sprinkled  on  grass  for  the  preservation  of  the  Links,  or  snow  or  ice,  or 
bare  patches  on  the  course. 

16.  A  player  or  a  player's  caddie  shall  not  press  down  or  remove  any 
irregularities  of  surface  near  the  ball,  except  at  the  Teeing  Ground, 
under  the  penalty  of  the  loss  of  the  hole. 

17.  If  any  vessel,  wheelbarrow,  tool,  roller,  grass-cutter,  box,  or  other 
similar  obstruction  has  been  placed  upon  the  course,  such  obstruction 
may  be  removed.  A  ball  lying  on  or  touching  such  obstruction,  or 
on  clothes,  or  nets,  or  on  ground  under  repair  or  temporarily  covered 
up  or  opened,  may  be  lifted  and  dropped  at  the  nearest  point  of  the 
course,  but  a  ball  lifted  in  a  hazard  sliall  be  dropped  in  the  hazard.  A 
ball  lying  in  a  golf  hole  or  flag  hole  may  be  lifted  and  dropped  not  more 
than  a  club  length  behind  such  hole. 

18.  When  a  ball  is  completely  covered  with  fog,  bent,  whins,  etc., 
only  so  much  thereof  shall  be  set  aside  as  that  the  player  shall  have  a 
view  of  his  ball  before  he  plays,  whether  in  a  line  with  the  hole  or 
otherwise. 

19.  When  a  ball  is  to  be  dropped,  the  player  shall  drop  it.  He  shall 
front  the  hole,  stand  erect  behind  the  hazard,  keep  the  spot  from  which 
the  ball  was  lifted  (or,  in  tlie  case  of  running  water,  the  spot  at  which  it 
entered)  in  a  line  between  him  and  the  hole,  and  drop  the  ball  behind 
him  from  his  head,  standing  as  far  behind  the  hazard  as  he  may  please. 


A  BIT  OF  HISTORY  377 

20.  When  the  balls  in  play  lie  within  six  inches  of  each  other— meas- 
ured from  their  nearest  points — the  ball  nearer  the  hole  shall  be  lifted 
until  the  other  is  played,  and  shall  then  be  replaced  as  nearly  as  possible 
in  its  original  position.  Should  the  ball  farther  from  the  hole  be  acci- 
dentally moved  in  so  doing,  it  shall  be  replaced.  Should  the  lie  of  the 
lifted  ball  be  altered  by  the  opponent  in  playing,  it  may  be  placed  in  a 
lie  near  to,  and  as  nearly  as  possible  similar  to,  that  from  which  it  was 
lifted. 

21.  If  the  ball  lie  or  be  lost  in  water,  the  player  may  drop  a  ball, 
under  the  penalty  of  one  stroke. 

22.  Whatever  happens  by  accident  to  a  ball  in  motion,  such  as  its 
being  deflected  or  stopped  by  any  agency  outside  the  match,  or  by  the 
forecaddie,  is  a  "rub  of  the  green,"  and  the  ball  shall  be  played  from 
where  it  lies.  Should  a  ball  lodge  in  anything  moving,  such  ball,  or,  if 
it  cannot  be  recovered,  another  ball,  shall  be  dropped  as  nearly  as  possi- 
ble at  the  spot  where  the  object  was  when  the  ball  lodged  in  it.  But  if 
a  ball  at  rest  be  displaced  by  any  agency  outside  the  match,  the  player 
shall  drop  it  or  another  ball  as  nearly  as  possible  at  the  spot  where  it  lay. 
On  the  Putting  Green  tlie  ball  may  be  replaced  by  hand. 

23.  If  the  player's  ball  strike,  or  be  accidentally  moved  by,  an  oppo- 
nent or  an  opponent's  caddie  or  clubs,  the  opponent  loses  the  hole. 

24.  If  the  player's  ball  strike,  or  be  stopped  by,  himself  or  his  part- 
ner, or  either  of  their  caddies  or  clubs,  or  if,  wliile  in  the  act  of  playing, 
the  player  strike  the  ball  twice,  his  side  loses  the  hole. 

25.  If  the  player  when  not  making  a  stroke,  or  his  partner  or  either 
of  their  caddies,  touch  their  side's  ball,  except  at  the  tee,  so  as  to  move 
it,  or  by  touching  anything  cause  it  to  move,  the  penalty  is  one  stroke. 

26.  A  ball  is  considered  to  have  been  moved  if  it  leave  its  original  ■ 
position  in  the  least  degree  and  stop  in  another;   but  if  a  player  touch 
his  ball  and  thereby  cause  it  to  oscillate,  without  causing  it  to  leave  its 
original  position,  it  is  not  moved  in  the  sense  of  Rule  25. 

27.  A  player's  side  loses  a  stroke  if  he  play  the  opponent's  ball,  unless 
(1)  the  opponent  then  play  the  player's  ball,  whereby  the  penalty  is  can- 
celled, and  the  hole  must  be  played  out  with  the  balls  thus  exchanged, 
or  (2)  the  mistake  occur  through  wrong  information  given  by  the  oppo- 
nent, in  which  case  the  mistake,  if  discovered  before  the  opponent  has 
played,  must  be  rectified  by  placing  a  ball  as  nearly  as  possible  where 
the  opponent's  ball  lay. 

If  it  be  discovered  before  either  side  has  struck  off  at  the  tee  that  one 
side  has  played  out  the  previous, hole  with  the  ball  of  a  party  not 
engaged  in  the  match,  that  side  loses  that  hole. 

28.  If  a  ball  be  lost,  the  player's  side  loses  the  hole.  A  ball  shall  be 
held  as  lost  if  it  be  not  found  within  five  minutes  after  the  search  is 
begun. 

29.  A  ball  must  be  played  wherever  it  lies,  or  the  hole  be  given  up, 
except  as  otherwise  provided  for  in  the  Rules. 

30.  The  term  "Putting  Green"  shall  mean  the  ground  within  20 
yards  of  the  hole,  excepting  hazards. 


378  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

31.  All  loose  impediments  may  be  removed  from  the  Putting  Green, 
except  the  opponent's  bull  Avhen  at  a  greater  distance  from  the  player's 
than  six  inches. 

33.  In  a  nuitcli  of  three  or  more  sides,  a  ball  in  any  degree  lying 
between  the  player  and  the  hole  must  be  lifted,  or,  if  on  the  Putting 
Green,  holed  out. 

33.  When  the  ball  is  on  the  Putting  Green,  no  mark  shall  be  placed, 
nor  line  drawn  as  a  guide.  The  line  to  the  hole  may  be  pointed  out, 
but  the  person  doing  so  may  not  touch  the  ground  with  the  hand  or 
club. 

The  player  may  have  his  own  or  his  partner's  caddie  to  stand  at  the 
bole,  but  none  of  the  players  or  their  caddies  may  move  so  as  to  shield 
the  ball  from,  or  expose  it  to,  the  wind. 

The  penalty  for  any  breach  of  this  rule  is  the  loss  of  the  hole. 

34.  The  player  or  his  caddie  may  remove  (but  not  press  down)  sand, 
earth,  worm  casts,  or  snow  lying  around  the  hole  or  on  the  line  of  his 
put.  This  shall  be  done  by  brushing  lightly  with  the  hand  only  across 
the  put  and  not  along  it.  Dung  may  be  removed  to  a  side  by  an  iron 
club,  but  the  club  must  not  be  laid  with  more  than  its  own  weight  upon 
the  ground.  The  putting  line  must  not  be  touched  by  club,  hand,  or 
foot,  except  as  above  authorized,  or  immediately  in  front  of  the  ball  in 
the  act  of  addressing  it,  under  the  penalty  of  the  loss  of  the  hole. 

35.  Either  side  is  entitled  to  have  the  flag-stick  removed  when  ap- 
proaching the  hole.  If  the  ball  rest  against  the  flag-stick  when  in  the 
hole,  the  player  shall  be  entitled  to  remove  the  stick,  and,  if  the  ball  fall 
in,  it  shall  be  considered  as  holed  out  in  the  previous  stroke. 

36.  A  player  shall  not  play  until  the  opponent's  ball  shall  have  ceased 
to  roll,  under  the  penalty  of  one  stroke.  Should  the  player's  ball  knock 
in  the  opponent's  ball,  the  latter  shall  be  counted  as  holed  out  in  the 
previous  stroke.  If,  in  playing,  the  player's  ball  displace  the  oppo- 
nent's ball,  the  opponent  shall  have  the  option  of  replacing  it. 

37.  A  player  sliall  not  ask  for  advice,  nor  be  knowingly  advised  about 
the  game  by  word,  look,  or  gesture  from  any  one  except  his  own  caddie, 
or  his  partner  or  partner's  caddie,  under  the  penalty  of  the  loss  of  the 
hole. 

38.  If  a  ball  split  into  separate  pieces,  another  ball  may  be  put  down 
where  the  largest  portion  lies,  or  if  two  pieces  are  apparently  of  equal 
size,  it  may  be  put  where  either  piece  lies,  at  the  option  of  the  player. 
If  a  ball  crack  or  become  unplayable,  the  player  may  change  it,  on  inti- 
mating to  his  opponent  his  intention  to  do  so. 

39.  A  penalty  stroke  shall  not  be  counted  the  stroke  of  a  player,  and 
shall  not  affect  the  rotation  of  play. 

40.  Should  any  dispute  arise  on  any  point,  the  players  have  the  right 
of  determining  the  party  or  parties  to  whom  the  dispute  shall  be  referred, 
but  should  they  not  agree,  either  party  may  refer  it  to  the  Green  Com- 
mittee of  the  green  where  the  dispute  occurs,  and  their  decision  shall  be 
final.  Should  the  dispute  not  be  covered  by  the  Rules  of  Golf,  the 
arbiters  must  decide  it  by  equity. 


A  BIT  OF  HISTORY  37^ 


SPECIAL   RULES  FOR   MEDAL   PLAY 

1.  In  Club  competitions,  the  competitor  doing  the  stipulated  course  in 
fewest  strokes  shall  be  the  winner. 

2.  If  the  lowest  score  be  made  by  two  or  more  competitors,  the  ties- 
shall  be  decided  by  another  round  to  be  played  either  on  the  same  or  on 
any  other  day  as  the  Captain,  or,  in  his  absence,  the  Secretary,  shall  direct. 

3.  New  holes  shall  be  made  for  the  Medal  Round,  and  tliereafter  no 
member  shall  play  any  stroke  on  a  Putting  Green  before  competing. 

4.  The  scores  shall  be  kept  by  a  special  marker,  or  by  the  competitors^ 
noting  each  other's  scores.  The  scores  marked  shall  be  checked  at  the 
finish  of  each  hole.  On  completion  of  the  course,  the  score  of  the  player 
shall  be  signed  by  the  person  keeping  the  score  and  handed  to  the  Secre- 
tary. 

5.  If  a  ball  be  lost,  the  player  shall  return  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the 
spot  where  the  ball  was  struck,  tee  another  ball,  and  lose  a  stroke.  If  the 
lost  ball  be  found  before  he  has  struck  the  other  ball,  the  first  shall  con- 
tinue in  play. 

6.  If  the  player's  ball  strike  himself,  or  his  clubs,  or  caddie,  or  if,  in 
the  act  of  playing,  the  player  strike  the  ball  twice,  the  penalty  shall  be 
one  stroke. 

7.  If  a  competitor's  ball  strike  the  other  player,  or  his  clubs  or  caddie, 
it  is  a  "  rub  of  the  green,"  and  the  ball  shall  be  played  from  where  it  lies. 

8.  A  ball  may,  under  a  penalty  of  two  strokes,  be  lifted  out  of  a  diffi- 
culty of  any  description,  and  be  teed  behind  same. 

9.  All  balls  shall  be  holed  out,  and  when  play  is  on  the  Putting  Green, 
the  flag  shall  be  removed,  and  the  competitor  whose  ball  is  nearest  the- 
hole  shall  have  the  option  of  holing  out  first,  or  of  lifting  his  ball,  if  it 
be  in  such  a  position  that  it  might,  if  left,  give  an  advantage  to  the  other 
competitor.  Throughout  the  green  a  competitor  can  have  the  other  com- 
petitor's ball  lifted,  if  he  find  that  it  interferes  with  his  stroke. 

10.  A  competitor  may  not  play  with  a  professional,  and  he  may  not 
receive  advice  from  any  one  but  his  caddie. 

A  forecaddie  may  be  employed. 

11.  Competitors  may  not  discontinue  play  because  of  bad  weather. 

12.  The  penalty  for  a  breach  of  any  rule  shall  be  disqualification. 

13.  Any  dispute  regarding  the  play  shall  be  determined  by  the  Green' 
Committee. 

14.  The  ordinary  Rules  of  Golf,  so  far  as  they  are  not  at  variance 
with  these  special  rules,  shall  apply  to  medal  play. 


LOCAL    RULES    FOR    ST.  ANDREWS    LINKS 

1.  When  the  Green  Committee  consider  it  necessary,  a  telegraph- 
board  shall  be  used  to  give  the  numbers  for  starting. 

2.  If  the  ball  lie  in  any  position  in  the  Swilcan  Burn,  whether  in 
■water  or  not,  the  player  may  drop  it,  or  if  it  cannot  be  recovered,  another- 
ball  may  be  dropped  on  the  line  where  it  entered  the  burn,  on  the  oppo- 


380  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

site  side  to  the  hole  to  that  to  which  he  is  playing,  under  the  penalty  of 
one  stroke. 

3.  Should  a  ball  be  driven  into  the  water  of  the  Eden  at  the  high  hole, 
or  into  the  Sea  at  the  first  hole,  the  ball,  or,  if  it  cannot  be  recovered,  an- 
other ball,  shall  be  teed  a  club  length  in  front  of  either  river  or  sea  near 
the  spot  where  it  entered,  under  the  penalty  of  one  stroke. 

4.  A  ball  in  the  enclosure  (between  the  road  and  dyke  holes)  called 
the  Station-master's  Garden  shall  be  a  lost  ball. 

5.  If  a  ball  lie  within  two  yards  of  a  fixed  seat,  it  may  be  lifted  and 
dropped  two  yards  to  the  side  of  the  seat  farthest  from  the  hole. 

6.  Any  dispute  respecting  the  play  shall  be  determined  by  the  Green 
Committee. 

7.  Competitions  for  the  Spring  and  Autumn  Medals  of  the  Club  (with 
the  exception  of  the  George  Glenuie  Medal)  shall  be  decided  by  playing 
one  round  of  the  Links,  and  the  competitor  doing  it  in  fewest  strokes 
shall  be  tbe  winner. 

8.  The  order  of  starting  for  the  Spring  and  Autumn  Medals  will  be 
balloted  for  on  the  previous  evening,  and  intending  competitors  must  give 
in  their  names  to  the  Secretary  not  later  than  five  o'clock  on  the  previous 
evening.  Any  competitor  not  at  the  Teeing  Ground  when  his  number  is 
called  shall  be  disqualified,  unless  it  be  proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Green  Committee  or  Secretary  that  he  has  a  valid  excuse,  such  as  serious 
temporary  illness,  a  train  late,  or  such  like,  in  Avhich  case  he  may  be 
allowed  to  compete,  and,  if  allowed,  shall  be  placed  at  the  bottom  of  the 
list.  The  absent  competitor's  partner  may  start  in  his  proper  turn,  pro- 
vided he  gets  another  player  to  play  with  him. 

9.  Competitors  for  medals  or  prizes  are  not  allowed  to  delay  starting 
on  account  of  bad  weather,  but  must  strike  off  immediately  after  the  pre- 
ceding party  has  crossed  the  burn,  and,  after  they  liave  started,  are  not 
allowed  to  take  shelter,  but  must  complete  their  round  in  the  order  of 
their  start.  In  cases  of  stoppage  by  accident,  or  severe  temporary  illness, 
the  Green  Committee  may  allow  a  competitor  to  resume  play. 

10.  All  private  matches  must  be  delayed  till  the  last  medal  competi- 
tors have  holed  out  at  the  first  hole. 


ETIQUETTE    OF    GOLF 

The  following  customs  belong  to  the  Established  Etiquette  of  Golf, 
and  should  be  observed  by  all  Golfers  : 

1.  No  player,  caddie,  or  onlooker  should  move  or  talk  during  a  stroke. 

2.  No  player  should  play  from  the  tee  until  the  party  in  front  have 
played  their  second  strokes  and  are  out  of  range,  nor  play  to  the  Putting 
Green  till  the  party  in  front  have  holed  out  and  moved  away. 

3.  The  player  who  leads  from  the  tee  should  be  allowed  to  play  before 
his  opponent  tees  his  ball. 

4.  Players  who  have  holed  out  should  not  try  their  putts  over  again 
when  other  players  are  following  them. 


A  BIT  OF  HISTORY  381 

5.  Players  looking  for  a  lost  ball  must  allow  any  other  match  coming 
up  to  pass  them. 

6.  A  party  playing  three  or  more  balls  must  allow  a  two-ball  match  to 
pass  them. 

7.  A  party  playing  a  shorter  round  must  allow  a  two-ball  match  play- 
ing the  whole  round  to  pass  them. 

8.  A  player  should  not  putt  at  the  hole  when  the  flag  is  in  it. 

9.  The  reckoning  of  the  strokes  is  kept  by  the  terms  "the  odd,"  "two 
more,"  "three  more,"  etc.,  and  "one  off  three,"  "one  off  two,"  "the 
like."  The  reckoning  of  the  holes  is  kept  by  the  terms— so  many  "holes 
up" — or  "all  even" — and — so  many  "to  play." 

10.  Turf  cut  or  displaced  by  a  stroke  in  playing  should  be  at  once 
replaced. 


XVI 

FIRST  LESSONS 

First  of  all  let  me  say  that  no  single  chapter  can  give 
all  the  instruction  necessary  to  cover  the  different  strokes 
and  situations  arising  in  golf — pronounced  g-o-f-f,  by  the 
way,  not  g-o-l-f.  It  was  not  my  original  intention  to  write 
this  one,  but  so  many  inquiries  have  come  to  me  about 
the  game,  I  thought  it  might  fill  a  place.  This  chapter 
is  intended  solely  for  beginners,  whom  I  shall  hope  to  give 
a  few  suggestions  founded  on  sorrowful  experience  and 
a  careful  study  of  the  game  in  its  home.  The  illustra- 
tions of  positions  are  from  instantaneous  photographs  of 
Willie  Dunn,  son  of  the  famous  Willie  Dunn,  deceased, 
contemporary  of  "  Old  Tom  "  Morris,  with  whom  he  had 
many  a  golfing  battle  over  Scotland's  links.  Dunn's  form 
is  said  by  those  who  know  to  be  the  very  best,  and  we 
commend  a  study  of  the  photographs  to  American  golfers. 

Probably  there  is  no  game,  unless  it  be  court-tennis, 
that  requires  so  complete  a  mastery  of  first  principles 
and  such  faithful  practice  in  its  rudimentary  strokes. 
The  elementary  instruction  of  every  game  is  of  course 
most  important,  and  its  thorough  adaptation  by  the  pu- 
pil necessary  to  the  development  of  highest  skill.  In 
golf,  however,  as  well  as  in  tennis,  one  may  never  ac- 
quire consistent  form  if  he  have  not  started  off  properly. 
He  may  ride  a  bicycle,  play  lawn-tennis,  baseball,  box, 
and  even  fence  in  a  duffer  sort  of  way,  yet  make  a  fair 
showing  and  have  good  sport,  but  he  cannot  play  golf 


FIRST  LESSONS 


383 


until  he  has  mastered  the  very  first  strokes.  Herein  lies 
the  fascination  of  the  game,  which,  while  appearing  so 
simple  to  the  on-looker,  becomes  most  difficult  when  he 
takes  a  club  and  makes  his  first  attempt  at  driving  off 
the  tee. 

It  is  not  that  there  are  so  many  intricate  rules  in  golf, 
but  the  few  must  be  mastered  thoroughly ;  and  it  is  well 
for  the  beginner  to  remember  that  one  of  England's  cham- 
pions declares  it  takes  six 
months,  playing   three 
times  a  week,  before  one 
may  be  said  to  have  ac- 
quired consistent  form. 

Choosing  Clubs. — The 
golfer  of  to-day  uses 
more  iron  clubs  than  for- 
merly, probably  because 
of  the  substitution  of 
gutta-percha  for  feather- 
stuffed  leather  balls,  but 
more  likely  on  account 
of  the  ingenuity  of  man- 
ufacturers, that  has  pro- 
vided different -shaped 
heads  for  different  "lies" 

of  the  ball.  Then,  too,  experience  has  taught  that  cer- 
tain situations  require  heavier  and  stiffer  clubs  for  the 
best  work.  Really  good  clubs  are  hard  to  get,  and  the 
beginner  will  do  well  to  trust  their  purchase  to  some  one 
who  is  experienced.  They  must  not  be  too  heavy,  else 
they  overbalance  the  player,  but  the  shafts  should  be 
stiffish  and  of  hickory,  which  is  commonly  used  and  is  the 
best ;    orange  wood  and  ash  have  been  employed,  but 


THE   WAGGLE 


^•^ 


384  A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 

neither  is  so  good  as  hickory.  The  heads  of  the  wooden 
clubs  should  be  of  beech ;  other  woods  are  harder,  but  it 
is  not  well  to  have  it  so,  as  the  driving  quality  is  lessened 
thereby.    Keraember,  the  more  the  face  is  laid  back  on  all 

your  clubs,  the  higher  they 
will  loft  the  ball.     Straight- 
jflj^  faced   drivers   and    brassies 

drive  farther  and   tend   to 
more    accurate    play.      Do 
not   use    extreme    clubs   of 
^  ■    "^{^        any  kind  ;    choose  the  one 
^^^il     -*>..^^        that  experience  has  taught 
is  the  best  for  the  play,  and 
if  you  do  your  part  proper- 
h  ly  the  club  will  do  the  rest. 

There  is  somewhat  of  a  fad 
among  inexperienced  play- 
ers to  buy,  for  large  sums, 
clubs  that  professionals  have 
used ;  but  it  is  a  futile  ex- 
travagance ;    you   may   get 

FRONT  VIKW — KNDING  OF  FULL  SWING  .  i    •  <■  i 

AFTER  DRIVE-INCORRECT  POSITION  JUSt   aS  gOOd  if    OUly   yOU    USG 

judgment  in  their  selection. 
The  number  of  different  clubs  put  on  the  market  of  late 
years  is  considerable,  and  new  patents  are  constantly  be- 
ing taken  out ;  but,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  seven  are  all  any 
one  needs — viz.,  driver,  brassy,  cleek,  iron,  lofter,  mashie, 
putter. 

Willie  Dunn  uses  only  six — driver,  brassy,  cleek,  iron, 
lofter,  niblick,  and  putts  off  the  cleek.  On  the  other  side, 
as  a  rule,  first-class  golfers  use  seven — driver,  brassy,  cleek, 
iron,  lofter,  mashie,  and  wooden  putter ;  they  use  the  lat- 
ter for  ten-yard  putts  or  over,  and  under  that  distance 
the  cleek. 


FIRST  LESSONS 


385 


Driver. — "Wooden  club  used  off  the  tee,  and  thereafter 
whenever  the  he  is  good  enough.  There  are  two  kinds — 
straight-faced  and  bulgers ;  the  latter,  from  the  oval  con- 
formation of  the  head,  are  more  difficult  to  handle,  but,  if 
you  hit  true,  are  better  for  straight  driving.  Beginners 
had  best  use  straight-faced  ones  until  they  are  absolutely 
certain  of  hitting  where  they  aim.  The  bulger  is  only 
for  the  skilled  player.  Pick  out  a  stiffish  club,  and  exe- 
cute the  waggle  to  see  how  it  feels  in  the  hands ;  it  should 
have  a  pronounced  pliability  down  towards  the  head. 

Brassy.  —  Wooden 
club,  soled  with  iron, 
to  be  used  where  the 
lie  of  ball  is  not  good 
enough  for  driver  or 
the  distance  less  than 
full  drive.  It  should 
be  shorter  and  stiffer 
of  shaft,  and  more  laid 
back  in  face  to  raise 
the  ball. 

Cleek.  —  Iron  club 
used  for  worse  lie  than 
brassy  and  shorter  dis- 
tance. Beginners  are 
apt  to  use  it  for  driv- 
ing, which  is  a  mistake. 
If  you  cannot  handle 
the  regular  driver  (also 
a  mistaken  basis  from 

which  to  start,  because  you  should  persevere  until  you 
can  manage  it),  have  one  made  Avith  shorter  and  stiffer 
handle.  It  is  bad  to  begin  your  driving  o£f  iron.  The 
cleek  should  be  shorter  than  brassy,  and   shaft   stiffer. 


FRONT    VIEW ENDING    OF    FULL    SWING    AFTER 

DRIVE CORRECT    POSITION 


386 


A  SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 


Choose  thick  heads,  always  remembering  what  is  gained 
in  loft  is  lost  in  distance.     The  blade  is  narrower  than 
that  of  the  lofter  or  iron ;  in  fact,  it  has  the  straightest 
face  next  to  putter. 

Iron.  —  Shorter  and  stiffer 
shaft,  and  face  more  laid  back 
than  cleek.  Is  used  for  short- 
er distances  than  that  club, 
and  for  playing  out  of  long 
grass  or  what  is  called  a  bad 
lie.  There  are  three  kinds — 
driving,  lofting,  and  heavy. 
Choose  a  medium  one,  with 
face  neither  too  straight  nor 
too  laid  back. 

Mashie. — Compromise  be- 
tween iron  and  niblick,  and 
has  come  to  be  used  very  gen- 
erally now  in  place  of  the 
latter.  Shorter  and  stiffer 
than  iron,  face  laid  farther 
back.  Used  for  shorter  strokes 
and  for  getting  out  of  bunker, 
rut  in  road,  long  grass,  or  very  bad  lie.  Beginners  had 
better  stick  to  iron,  as  the  face  of  mashie,  and  especially 
of  niblick,  is  so  small  as  to  require  accuracy  in  hitting, 
though  they  pitch  the  ball  deader. 

Lofter. — Face  most  laid  back  of  all  the  clubs.  Used  by 
experienced  players  with  great  skill  in  pitching  ball  dead 
on  approach  shot.  Used  largely  for  getting  out  of  sand 
and  over  hazards,  generally,  where  it  is  desired  to  raise 
the  ball  in  its  flight. 

Putter. — There  has  always  been  considerable  contro- 
versy over  the  relative  merits  of  the  iron  and  wooden 


BACK     VIKW  —  KNLil.NG     OK     KCLL 
SWING    AFTER    DRIVE — COR- 
RECT   POSITION 


FIRST  LESSONS 


387 


• 


putter,  and  some  of  the  old  Scotch  school  have  never  be- 
come reconciled  to  the  more  modern  metal.  It  is  very 
generally  conceded,  however,  by  first-class  players  that 
wood  is  best  for  long  putts,  and  iron  for  short  ones.  The 
latter  is  a  trifle  laid  back,  and  puts  a  drag  on  the  ball, 
making  it  run  off  closer  to  the  ground.  When  you  be- 
come a  veteran  you  can  use  metal  for  short  putts,  and  add 
a  wooden  one  to  your  clubs  for  long  ones. 

Holding  Club.— Do  not  grip  the  club  tightly,  nor  yet 
loosely;  the  dividing  line  is  narrow  but  distinct.     You 
should  feel  the  shaft  with  fingers  and  palm,  and  more  firm- 
ly with  left  than  with  right 
hand.     Have  the  hands  close 
together,  the  right  in  front 
of  left ;  remember  that  every 
inch  separating  them  means 
yards  off  the  flight  of  ball. 
A  loose  grip  argues  uncer- 
tain driving;  too  tight 
with  right  hand,  a  ten- 
dency to  slice  the  ball. 
Messrs.     Hutchinson 
and  Dunn  advise  both 
thumbs  over  the  club, 
the  left  a  trifle  more 
than  the  right. 

Addressing  the 
Ball. — It  would  take 
a  chapter  alone  to  com- 
ment on  the  many  dif- 
ferent styles  of  address- 
ing, and  as  it  is  not  a  matter  of  great  importance  it  would 
be  space  wasted.  There  is  altogether  too  much  made  of 
this  incident  to  driving.     A  certain  amount  of  it  is  good, 


BACK    VIEW ENDnJG    OP    FULL    SWING 

AFTER   DRIVE — INCORRECT   POSITION 


A   SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


FOIl    DRIVING 

CORRECT     POSITION 


aim    as 

then  you  follow 
with  the  waggle 
proper  (done  by 
the  wrists)  as  a  sort  of  warming  up, 
in  which  you  feel  the  club  with  3^our 
fingers  and  palms,  and  the  ground 
with  the  balls  of  your  feet.  It  is 
well  to  remember  about  feeling  the 
ground  with  your  feet ;  the  novice  is 
apt  to  become  lost  amid  the  flourishes 
and  forget  to  stand  firmlj^  on  the 
ground,  thus  losing  balance  at  the 
stroke.  Always,  after  your  flourish, 
place  the  club  behind  the  ball,  resting 
it  an  instant  before  the  final  sweep. 
Never  swing  at  the  ball  from  your 
flourish.  In  fact,  beginners  ought  to 
make  no  flourishes ;  carry  your  club 


but  too  much  is — not  precisely  bad^ 
but  rather  fatiguing — to  your  oppo- 
nent, for  instance.  The  waggle  is  the 
beginning  of  the  address,  and  betrays 
the  player's  temperament  as  no  other 
feature  of  any  game  does.  It  may  be 
menacing,  solemnly  warning,  san- 
guine, nervous,  phlegmatic — there  is 
no  end  to  individual  manoeuvre,  Avhich 
may  promise  much  in  preliminary 
flourish,  but  prove  disappointing  in 
the  fulfilment.  It  has  its  usefulness^ 
however.  Yoii  begin  your  address  by 
placing  the  club  back  of  the  ball  and 
carrying  it  over  and  forward  to  take 
it   were; 


FRONT    VIKW    OF    FEET 

FOR    DRIVING 

INCORRECT     POSITION 


FIRST  LESSONS 


389 


forward  in  the  direction  you  in- 
tend driving,  rest  it  back  of  the 
ball,  and  then  swing.  Flourishing 
is  disconcerting  to  the  tyro. 

Driving.  —  Treatises  go  into 
mathematical  niceties  over  the  cor- 
rect position  in  driving,  such  as  to 
confuse  the  beginner.  The  chief 
thing  for  him  to  remember  is  to 
stand  square  to  the  ball ;  left  eye, 
hands,  club,  and  ball  all  in  a  verti- 
cal line,  at  right  angles  with  pro- 
posed line  of  ball's  flight;  weight 
on  left  leg;  feet  18  inches  apart, 
and  riofht   one  about  two  inches 


behind    left;   hands 


ADDRKSSING    BALL    FOR 
DRIVE CORRKCT     POSITION 


CORRECT  POSITION   OK 
FEET    IN    HIGH    LOFTING 


holding  club 
just  inside  left 
knee  (this  is 
true  of  position  in  all  strokes). 
Your  distance  from  ball  will  be  cor- 
rect if,  with  the  heel  of  club  at  ball, 
the  end  of  shaft  should  touch  left 
knee  of  player  as  he  stands  upright. 
Incidentally,  remember,  as  distance 
for  stroke  decreases,  have  the  ball 
nearer  right  toe. 

The  closer  the  feet  the  freer  the 
swing,  but  if  too  close  the  driving  is 
apt  to  be  weakened  and  inaccurate; 
with  feet  far  apart  the  player  be- 
comes stiffened,  shortening  the  drive, 
though  gaining  great  power.  In  the 
swing,  bear  in  mind  that  as  your 
club  goes  up  so  it  will  come  down ; 


390 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


slow  up  swing,  relatively  speaking,  is  a  sine  qua  non  of 
fine  driving,  Kegard  the  left  arm  as  part  of  the  club,  and 
keep  it  taut.  The  greatest  amount  of  practice  is  necessary 
to  allow  arms  to  swing  well  away,  and  yet  bring  them 
down  and  in,  for  the  club 
must  be  travelling  in  the  in- 
tended flight  of  ball  when 
brought  down.  Mr.  Horace 
Hutchinson,  Avhose  Badmin- 
ton volume  is  far  and  away 
the  most  complete,  instruc- 
tive, and  interesting  of  any- 
thing published  on  the  game, 
explains  this  point  clearly 
thus:  Take  a  spot  on  the 
ground,  and  then  draw  away 
3^our  club.  You  will  find 
the  only  way  to  extend  the 
proposed  line  of  flight,  hack- 
ward,  is  to  straighten  out  the 
arms  well ;  if  you  bend  them 
you  find  the  head  of  club 
leaving  the  line.  In  the  up 
swing,  left  arm  should  rest  comfortably  across  chest, 
shghtly  bent  at  elbow;  do  not  pause  at  top  of  swing; 
increase  speed  as  you  bring  club  downward,  and  get  in 
your  power  when  about  18  inches  from  the  ball. 


FROST    VIEW BEGINNING    OF    HIGH 

LOFTING    STROKE 


At  the  moment  of  hitting  the  ball  you  must  be  in  pre- 
cisely the  same  position  as  at  the  time  of  addressing  it. 
This  is  the  difficulty  of  golf,  and  can  be  acquired  only  by 
patient,  persistent  practice.  There  is  no  short-cut  to  golf- 
ing success.  Remember  to  sweej)  away  the  ball — a  sort  of 
scythe  motion ;  the  beginner  is  likely  to  think  only  of 


FIRST  LESSONS 


391 


0 


hitting  it.  Never  jerk  your  club  except  in  bunker  or 
similar  hazard.  Do  not  tighten  up  when  you  strike  the 
ball,  or  try  to  knock  it  out  of  sight.  Be  easy,  follow  the 
ball  with  your  club,  and  keep  your  feet  on  the  ground. 
Hit  fairly,  clearly,  firmly,  not  wildly. 

Do  not  bother  about  too  much  detail  at  first.  A  be- 
ginner is  likely  to  ask  and  be  given  no  end  of  confusing 
and  oftentimes  worthless  advice.  He  sliould  seek  counsel 
of  one  competent  to  give  it,  and  then  follow  it,  bearing  in 
mind  he  must  practise  for  weeks  and  months  before  he 
will  have  any  form.  He  is  apt  to  do  better  the  first  few 
times  he  plays,  when 
he  has  no  thought  of 
style,  and  is  intent  only 
on  whacking  the  ball, 
than  a  little  later.  Golf 
is  learned  by  imitation, 
largely,  and  it  is  like- 
wise, more  than  any 
other  game,  full  of 
mimics.  It  is  not  good 
to  become  one  of  the 
latter,  because  manner- 
isms are  not  of  the 
slightest  value,  and  are 
to  be  avoided.  Watch 
good  form;  try  to  at- 
tain a  free  style,  and 
practise  with  that  end 
constantly  in  view.    It 

is  not  possible,  of  course,  for  all  men  to  have  the  same 
style.  A  very  heavy  man  cannot  expect  to  get  the  swing 
and  freedom  of  a  more  athletically  built  one.  Each  play- 
er has  a  style  that,  starting  (or  at  least  it  should  start) 


FRONT    VIEW— FINISH   OF   HIGH-LOFTING 
STROKE 


392 


A   SPORTING   PILGRIMAGE 


from  the  one  basis,  is  the  reflection  of  the  age  at  which  he 
began,  and  of  himself  physically  and  mentally. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  buncombe  about  the  waggle 
and  style,  the  importance  of  both  being  greatly  exagger- 
ated. What  the  beginner  need  concern  himself  about  is 
to  get  accuracy ;  keep  the  club  travelling  in  the  direction 
of  the  ball  after  the  strike,  and  follow  with  the  body ; 
get  the  shoulders  into  the  sweep — the  entire  body,  in 

fact ;  bear  weight  on  left 
leg  at  the  address,  trans- 
ferring it  to  right  on  up 
swing,  and  again  to  the 
left  as  the  ball  is  swept 
away.  Let  the  lifting  of 
knee  and  left  heel  on  up 
swing  be  incidental  to  the 
swing — ?.^.,you  must  not  set 
out  to  do  it,  it  will  come  in 
due  course.  Stand  steady, 
feeling  the  ground  with 
your  feet;  keep  direction  of 
swing  right,  and  the  eye 
always  on  the  ball.  Above 
all,  keep  your  mind  on  the 
business  of  the  moment ; 
think  of  what  you  are  tr}'- 
ing  to  do ;  beginners  are 
inclined  to  fancy  golf  so  simple  as  to  require  no  especial 
mental  application.  Never  play  weakly ;  remember  the 
length  of  swing,  and  not  strength  of  sweep,  regulates 
carry  of  the  ball.  Use  weaker  clubs  instead  of  making 
weaker  effort.  A  full  shot  is  the  full  swing;  three-quarter 
shot,  shoulders  do  not  turn,  work  being  done  by  arms, 
legs,  and  hips;  half  shot,  use  arms  from  elbow  joints  only  ; 


TIKW — GETTING    OUT   OF    A 
BUNKER 


FIRST  LESSONS 


393 


LOFTING    A    STIMIE 


quarter  shot  is  cliiefly  made  by- 
wrists. 

Concentrate  your  efforts  on 
learning  to  get  the  swing  (no 
matter  whether  you  hit  the  ball 
or  not  at  first,  hitting  is  of  small 
importance  compared  with  get- 
ting the  swing  properly),  to  drive 
straight;  play  out  of  a  bad  lie 
and  loft  out  of  a  hole.  When 
you  can  do  these  things  in  some 
degree  of  form  you  may  call 
yourself  a  golfer.  It  is  not 
enough  to  learn  to  drive.  You 
must  drive  straight;  that  is  impor- 
tant, else  you  get  off  the  course, 
and   lose 

considerably.  This  is  where  the 
value  of  accuracy  makes  itself  ap- 
parent. Eemember  the  injunc- 
tion not  to  use  the  cleek  for  driv- 
ing, and  remember  also,  if  you  do, 
that  the  "  divots  "  (sods)  you  cut 
out  should  be  replaced  at  once. 
Practise  with  the  driver  until  you 
master  it — in  fact,  make  it  a 
point  to  take  that  club  which 
puzzles  you  and  work  with  it 
until  you  control  it. 

Golf  play  is  made  up  of  driv- 
ing, iron  play,  and  putting,  and 
of  these  driving  is  the  most  pleas- 
ing. Iron  ■  clubs  are  much  the 
best  for  approaching  the  putting 


FRONT    VIEW — BEGINNING    OF 
THREE-QUARTER  SWING 


394 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


green,  and 
you  should 
endeavor  al- 
ways to  lay 
your  ball 
dead. 

An  ap- 
proach shot 
is  one  within 
sixty  yards  of  the  green,  and 
it  is  difficult  play.  Only  your 
instructor  can  give  you  the 
practical  instruction  that  is 
needed  here.  But  bear  in 
mind  that  in  all  iron  shots  you 
play  off  your  right  foot — i.  <?., 
right  foot  in  advance  (whereas 
in  driving  left  foot  is  in  ad- 
vance), weight  on  left  leg — ball  distant  the  length  of  club 
to  left  knee,  as  in  driving,  and  on  a  line  that  Avould  run 
about  midway  between  feet. 

Putting  is  the  least  interesting  and  very  important, 
though  many  ignore,  or  rather  slight  it,  because  of  the 
difficulty,  which  is  greater  than  in  driving.  Many  a 
game  has  been  won  on  the  green.  Practise  long  and  care- 
fully, but  be  sure  you  have  a  well-balanced  club.  Hit 
smoothly  without  jerk.  Putt  with  the  wrists.  Let  the 
club  work  from  them,  in  fact,  as  a  pendulum.  Assume  a 
position  from  which  you  can  best  send  the  putter  straight 
as  it  meets  the  ball.  Stand  open,  half  facing  hole,  weight 
slightly  on  left  leg,  right  foot  in  advance,  ball  equal  dis- 
tance between  feet.  In  short  ])utts  of  three  or  four  yards 
and  less,  rest  right  elbow  on  thigh  ;  be  sure  of  the  exact 
spot   on  putter  that  will  hit    the  ball ;   hold  club  with 


FRONT    AIEW EXDl.NT,    OF    THREE- 

QUARTER    SWING 


FIRST  LESSONS 


396 


both  hands  equall.y,  and  always  "be  up"  —  i.e.,  putt 
strong  enough  to  reach  the  liole.  It  is  better  to  pass  it 
than  not  strong  enough  to  reach  it. 

The  pleasure  of  golf  depends  very  considerably  on  the 
quality  of  ground.  Your  links  must  not  be  too  easy,  nor 
yet  too  difficult,  and  the  carries  (distances  from  tee  over 
bunker)  should  not  be  too  long,  so  that  the  medium  driver 
may  have  a  chance.  There  should  be  plenty  of  hazards, 
so  arranged  that  every  hole  is  guarded.  In  fact,  for 
good  golf  a  difficulty  should  be  put  in  the  way  of  every 
shot.  Putting-greens  (and  our  American  ones,  generally 
speaking,  are  very  poor)  should  be  about  thirty  yards  in 
diameter,  and  the  hole  ought  to  be  moved  when  worn. 
Greens  should  be  absolutely  clear  of  obstruction  and  as 
smooth  as  possible.  I  mention  this  because  so  many  that 
are  planning  home-made  links  seem  to  think  the  green 


BEGINNING    OF   HALF    IRON    SHOT 

CORRECT    POSITION 


ENDING    OF    HALF    IRON    SHOT- 
CORRECT    POSITION 


A  SPORTING  PILGRIMAGE 


FRONT   VIEW PUTTING — COR- 
RECT  POSITION 


should  have  its  share  of  trials. 
There  is  tribulation  enough  on  the 
green  without  increasing  it  artifi- 
cially. In  building  bunkers  throw 
up  the  ground  on  the  farther  side, 
so  the  excavation  becomes  part  of 
the  hazard ;  the  bunker  should 
slant  from  the  player  (not  straight- 
faced),  and  the  bank  be  wide. 

I  follow  with  a  few  definitions 
in  repl}^  to  the  many  letters  re- 
ceived on  the  subject.  The  Linhs 
is  the  course  of  holes — 18  being 
the  regulation,  but  12  is  the  largest 
number  on  any  links  in  America, 
thouo;h  Shinnecock  intends  len^th- 
ening  its  12 
to  18.    Tee— 


starting-point.  Caddie — generally 
speaking,  the  boy  that  carries  your 
clubs;  on  the  other  side,  however, 
he  is  often  counsellor  and  father- 
confessor.  To  foozle  or  duff  a  shot 
means  to  bungle  it.  Topping — not 
hitting  well  behind  the  ball.  Slicing 
— bringing  club  down  with  a  cut 
instead  of  squarely.  Heeling — hit- 
ting ball  with  heel  of  club.  Toeing 
— hitting  with  toe.  Fore — called  at 
the  time  of  driving  to  warn  players 
in  front  of  you. 

Two  holes  up  —  means  you  are 
leading  the  opponent  by  two  holes. 
Dorm  ie — when  you  are  leading  your 


FIRST  LESSONS  397 

opponent  by  as  many  holes  as  there  are  left  to  play,  so 
that  were  he  to  win  all  remaining,  he  could  only  tie  you; 
for  instance,  if  you  were  two  up  and  two  to  play. 

Stimie  is  the  situation  where  your  opponent's  ball  is  be- 
tween yours  and  the  hole,  and  more  than  6  inches  sepa- 
rating the  two  balls.  You  are  obliged  to  loft  over  it ;  if 
the  balls  were  within  6  inches  of  each  other  you  could 
remove  opponent's  while  you  played. 

He  whose  ball  is  behind  always  plays  first. 

Those  on  putting-green  are  entitled  to  hole  out  before 
following  ones  play  up  to  it. 

Players  in  front  are  each  entitled  to  second  shot  before 
following  players  tee  off. 

Do  not  talk  while  player  is  making  his  shot.  Keep 
away  5  to  6  yards,  and  stand  at  side — never  behind. 

Never  go  on  green  while  others  are  playing  there. 

A  four-some  (4  players)  is  entitled  to  pass  two-some  (2 
players)  on  the  links,  and  both  to  pass  three-some.  All 
of  which  must  read  ridiculously  simple  to  golfers  ;  but 
the  newness  of  the  game  in  this -country  warrants  its 
publication  for  beginners. 

Finally,  get  the  St.  Andrews  (Scotland)  club  rules  and 
abide  by  them.  There  is  a  tendency  to  petty  infringe- 
ment which  should  not  be  tolerated.  To  play  three  rounds 
a  week  is  good ;  more  than  four  is  not  advisable  ;  but 
whenever  you  play,  never  fail  to  watch  your  swing :  it  is 
the  most  important ;  and  always  keep  your  eye  on  the 
ball  once  you  start  to  play  it. 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Velerinan,/  Medicine 
Cummings  School  of  Veterinary  [vledicine  at 
Tufts  University 
200  Westbcro  Road 
North  Grafton  JvIA  01536 


